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This article is part of Football FanCast’s In Numbers series, which takes a statistical look at performances, season-long form and reported transfer targets…
Marcelo Bielsa sprung a surprise in his Championship starting XI for the first time this term on Sunday.
The Argentine didn’t have Adam Forshaw in his team so instead of opting to bring Tyler Roberts back into the fold, Jamie Shackleton played in midfield.
The young Leeds man featured at right-back for vast amounts of last season but is capable in midfield too, showing his qualities in a slightly more attacking role during the Whites’ 2-0 win over Barnsley.
Forshaw has been astute this season and has a pass success rate of over 90%. Perhaps at times they did miss him, especially considering Shackleton was dispossessed twice.
However, if you consider his overall performance, the 19-year-old was far more dynamic as he not only made up for the former Middlesbrough man’s absence, but also proved why Roberts will have to wait longer to return to the starting XI.
He appeared for the U23s last Monday and was brought back into the first-team squad on Sunday following a procedure where he had fluid drained from his knee.
Considering Bielsa’s limited options, this will come as a welcome relief but after Shackleton’s display, they shouldn’t fast track him back.
Why? Because the teenager proved he can have a positive impact in attacking and defensive thirds.
Against Barnsley, it looked as though it might have been a repeat story of Swansea two weeks ago. Leeds had 21 shots and 66.6% of the possession as they dominated the play but failed to score until the final ten minutes.
Once again it was Eddie Nketiah who arrived late on the scene following his heroics against Brentford last month.
But one of the unsung heroes was Shackleton who was playing beside Mateusz Klich.
His effectiveness was particularly impressive, taking three shots on goal and performing three dribbles, according to WhoScored.
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Although he didn’t score, there was a goal threat there that Roberts can bring to a game in a similar area. He contributed to eight strikes in the Championship last term but Shackleton proved highly efficient in a box-to-box role, creating three chances too.
From a defensive point of view, he made four tackles as the midfielder’s ability to break up the play proved crucial to stopping attacks.
The teenager hasn’t always had a set role in the side but perhaps this is where he can now thrive, thus putting off Roberts’ return to the starting XI.
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