The Leeds United app has dropped a hint on the future of both Ian Poveda and Jamie Shackleton, going into Sunday and our opener against Cardiff City at Elland Road – by listing duo Poveda and Shackleton’s new shirt numbers.
Leeds will be aiming to secure a return to the Premier League this season, but Daniel Farke is clearly going to have to rely on a number of players that while Leeds were in the top tier – had little chance of making an impression.
Shackleton and Poveda are certainly two examples. Poveda has spent the last two seasons out on loan at Blackburn and Blackpool – playing just 36 times in total over the two years, and picking up a broken leg. He is back at Leeds.
Shackleton returns after 37 outings with Millwall last term – most of which came from the bench. He find himself in the last year of his contract. But Poveda has been the biggest success story, or surprise, of pre-season under Farke.
Shackleton has featured heavily in midfield – seemingly ahead of Darko Gyabi in the pecking order, starting against Forest with Ethan Ampadu. Gray started against Hearts and Monaco. The Leeds app has dropped a hint on the duo.
Leeds app drops hint on future of Poveda and Shackleton with numbers
In the list of numbers, Poveda is listed as wearing the no.7 shirt. It means he has taken the number off of Brenden Aaronson, who has of course gone on loan to Union Berlin. Poveda wore no.7 when last playing for Leeds, in 2021.
Shackleton, meanwhile, will not be wearing his usual no.46. Instead, and perhaps an even stronger hint that he will be a part of the Leeds squad this season, he has been given no.14 – the shirt number worn by Diego Llorente.
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