Leeds United

Leeds pundit drops huge take on academy graduate

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Image for Leeds pundit drops huge take on academy graduate

Former All Leeds TV pundit Joe Wainman believes that Jamie Shackleton deserves a chance in the first-team at Elland Road this season.

Shackleton has come through the academy with the club and has gone on to make 63 first-team appearances.

He has seen his appearances limited somewhat, though, as Leeds have progressed from the Championship into the Premier League.

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In 2018/19, Shackleton played 19 times in the second-tier and in 2019/20, he played 22 times; following promotion in 2020/21, he made just 13 league appearances.

Only three of those were starts, though, and he played just one minute in the final 14 games of the season.

He was on the bench again at the weekend as Leeds were thumped 5-1 by Manchester United but Wainman believes he deserves a greater chance in the first-team in the coming weeks and months.

He said: “I think he’s a fantastic talent. He’s a great player and maybe he deserves more game time but Bielsa has his players and we’ll have to wait and see but I hope Shackleton stays and I hope we see more of him this season.

“I’d prefer him to stay at the club and get game time in the Premier League for Leeds.”

Shackleton can play in a variety of positions and is capable of featuring in central midfield, defensive midfield and at right back.

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