Daniel Farke was present as the Leeds United players returned to the grass with pre-season now well underway, as was forgotten midfielder Jamie Shackleton – and with the need for midfielders emerging, he could be a wildcard.
Shackleton, 23, played 48 times for Leeds in the first two seasons of Marcelo Bielsa’s era. He was well-liked by the Argentina and when he was not playing, he was on the bench. Whether he was used at right-back, or in midfield.
But in the Premier League, his game time dried up. After a tricky loan spell at Millwall in which he found himself a bit unfortunate when it came to game time – but still playing 37 times – he is now back at Leeds. His deal ends in 2024.
In a video posted on Twitter below, Shackleton is seen among the players warming up in the new training kit. His future is up in the air, but with Leeds likely to be lacking in midfielders – he has a chance to return to the Leeds fold.
Jamie Shackleton in Leeds training, he could be a Daniel Farke wildcard
Midfield is a crucial area in which Farke needs to get right. Weston McKennie has gone back to Juventus, and Adam Forshaw is now, technically, a free agent. He has not been spotted in training, despite being invited back to Leeds.
Tyler Adams has half of the Premier League courting him, and Marc Roca is being strongly linked with Betis. After those four, Leeds are left with Darko Gyabi and Archie Gray – a meagre three senior Leeds games between them.
Leeds, then, need midfielders. Even if Gray and Gyabi come in to the senior side, which is expected, two central midfielders in what is expected to be a 4-2-3-1 system under Farke needs depth. Shackleton could help Farke.
He is a player that arguably, has never really been given a chance at Leeds. When he did get a brief run in midfield under Bielsa towards the end of the 2018-19 season, he impressed. He might be the midfield wildcard Farke needs.
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