Leeds United sensation Jamie Shackleton is likely to make the grade in the Premier League – but in midfield rather than defence, according to a scout.
The Daily Mail’s ‘secret scout’ has been keeping tabs on the 19-year-old and delivered a ringing endorsement of his potential after his emergence into the first team this season.
Shackleton has been used predominantly at right-back as deputy to Luke Ayling, but the expert is convinced his technical ability will not only “get him a decent career” that sees him “make the grade”, but “he has a good chance of being in the Premier League next season with his club – perhaps it will be as a midfielder”.
OPINION
This is fascinating detail about the strengths and weaknesses of Shackleton, and the potential that has got plenty of Leeds fans excited since he burst onto the scene at the start of the season. His pace and ability to launch attacks from right-back has led to many calling for him in recent times to get the nod at right-back over Luke Ayling, who had been pretty ropey in that position for some time until his impressive performance in the demolition of West Brom. Marcelo Bielsa ignored those calls, and the scout has perhaps identified why, highlighting Shackleton’s back-post defending as an area of weakness. That is one of Ayling’s strengths, and his ability in the air and in defending set-pieces has probably been key to him staying in the side when his distribution has been hit-and-miss. Shackleton’s distribution and comfort on the ball mean central midfield could eventually be his position, with the evidence growing he can even play there at Premier League level.