Shaughnessy is reportedly set to leave Leeds and join Hearts on loan this month.
Leeds Live have claimed that Marcelo Bielsa may delay Conor Shaughnessy’s loan move to Scottish Premiership side Hearts, as the Leeds United manager wants to keep his options open for Saturday’s FA Cup clash against QPR.
Last week, 22-year-old Shaughnessy was linked with a move to Craig Levein’s Hearts. The defender even posted a picture on Instagram from Easter Road, where Hearts were playing away to Edinburgh rivals Hibernian.
The Ireland Under-21 international has hardly been used by Bielsa this season, managing just one appearance in the Carabao Cup loss to Preston North End. He was hooked at half-time during the game.
Instead, he has been used frequently in the Under-23 side, though Bielsa has preferred to use Aapo Halme instead of Shaughnessy. A loan move makes sense for the colossal defender, then.
It was believed a move to Hearts was on the cards and that could remain, but Leeds Live reckon Bielsa may decide to stall Shaughnessy’s move north of the border in a bid to give him a chance against QPR on Saturday.
Leeds travel south to take on Steve McClaren’s side in the third round of the FA Cup, with Bielsa likely to make changes to his side in order to rest his star players ahead of next Friday’s crucial Championship clash against Derby County.
That may see Shaughnessy given another chance to show why he deserves to a reprieve at Elland Road – with Bielsa seemingly quick to judge having only given the versatile ace 45 minutes.
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