Leeds United midfielder Jamie Shackleton’s time with the Whites is now in his own hands as he aims for an injury-free season.
This is according to the 22-year-old’s agent, Hayden Evans, who has been speaking about his client on the latest episode of The Phil Hay Show.
Shackleton has had a difficult time of it at Elland Road, with his 2021/22 campaign riddled with injuries, which saw him make just 14 appearances in the Premier League.
The midfielder will now spend the upcoming campaign back in the Championship, having joined Millwall on a season-long loan deal in search of some regular first-team football.
However, the player’s agent does not believe this is necessarily the end of his time in Yorkshire, with the hope an injury-free campaign could revive his career with the Whites.
He said: “I’d never say never. I think it’s all about this season, it’s all about how he performs. Sometimes you write these players off and think ‘right, that’s the end of the road at that particular club’, and it’s time to move on.
“You don’t really do that. I mean, an example of that is Cody Drameh, who we thought had burnt all his bridges, didn’t we? Everybody thought that. Then he’s had an unbelievable season and now all the talk around Cody is he’s going to fight for a place at Leeds, Leeds want him to fight for that place, so things change, you just never know.”
TIF Thoughts on Evans’ comments…
Shackleton’s best spell with Leeds came in the Championship during their 2019/20 promotion season, which saw the youngster make 22 league appearances and add two goals to his tally (via Transfermarkt).
Does Shackleton have a future with Leeds?
Yes
No
However, it has just not worked out for the midfielder during his time playing in the Premier League, with 14 appearances the most he has made in a single campaign in the top flight.
But as his agent suggests, if he is able to maintain his fitness across the upcoming season, perhaps that could put him right back into the plans of the Leeds manager this time next year.