Jamie Shackleton has returned to Leeds United this summer after a loan spell with Millwall in the Championship last season, and he has posted on Instagram for the first time following his time in London – with a three-word message.
Shackleton, 23, left Leeds on loan last summer after 79 senior games – following his path into the Leeds side under Marcelo Bielsa. Of those 79, 27 came in the Premier League. But Jesse Marsch chose to send Shackleton on loan.
He did well at Millwall – glimpses of quality, his talent, his unrelenting work rate. He struggled to nail down a starting spot and Millwall, who did have an option to sign him permanently, decided not to sign Shackleton this summer.
The versatile midfielder is back in pre-season at Leeds, where he finds himself in the final 12 months of his contract. His agent told The Athletic’s Phil Hay podcast that a permanent move away is more than likely in the coming weeks.
But he started in midfield against Manchester United last week, during the 2-0 loss in Oslo – and now, Shackleton has posted a three-word message to Leeds supporters on Instagram. It was his first Leeds post since last summer.
Jamie Shackleton posts on Instagram for first time after return to Leeds
Does Shackleton have a future at Elland Road? Well, it is certainly up in the air. Relegation and a lack of options in the middle of the park will strengthen his cause, as will the instalment of a new manager in Daniel Farke, at Leeds.
But his contractual situation, and his struggle to start games regularly at Millwall, will go the other way. Preference will be given to our younger midfield stars, who far exceed Shackleton’s potential – in Darko Gyabi and Archie Gray.
So, there is every chance that Farke keeps Shackleton. He is the ideal kind of player to have on the bench, able to cover a number of positions. But, Shackleton himself may want to go and join a club where he can play regularly.
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