‘Questions’… Phil Hay names two Leeds United players who could leave in January

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Phil Hay has named Charlie Cresswell and Jamie Shackleton as two of the players most likely to leave Leeds United in January.

The two former Millwall loanees find themselves on the fringes at Elland Road at the moment, with Cresswell having only played one minute since Leeds’ Carabao Cup exit at Salford City in August.

Shackleton, meanwhile, has been suffering with some niggling injury issues over the last few weeks and now finds himself down the pecking order in both full-back positions.

Speaking on the latest episode of the Square Ball Podcast, Hay mooted Cresswell as a potential departure due to Leeds’ stance on selling him last January.

He also believes that due to Shackleton’s contract expiring at Leeds in the summer, he could well be on the way out despite Daniel Farke’s liking of the 24-year-old.

Cresswell and Shackleton unlikely to play many minutes at Leeds

Hay says that while Leeds are likely to favour none of their squad leaving in January, it is fringe players like these two who aren’t out of the question.

He said: “I would favour no one going in January unless it is somebody really fringe. I think there will be questions about Charlie Cresswell because Leeds seemed open to selling him last January and he hasn’t played much since then. He strikes me as someone who wants minutes.

“Shackleton, too, I know he has been in the mix but he is starting to get to the end of his contract. This season seems to be the same situation he has been for a long time, in having a coach who rates him but isn’t using him that much.”

Cresswell is behind Joe Rodon, Pascal Struijk and Liam Cooper in the pecking order at centre-back and when all of them are fit, he doesn’t even make the bench.

Given his age and the fact he signed a new deal in the summer, Leeds could get a decent fee for him, which would represent pure profit towards financial fair play rules.

Shackleton, meanwhile, has featured mostly at full-back this season, but with Djed Spence and Junior Firpo now back fit, he is third choice at best on both flanks.