Leeds United‘s Jamie Shackleton is on loan with Millwall at the moment, and it’s going to lead to a permanent Elland Road exit in the summer.
That’s according to his agent, Hayden Evans, who spoke on The Phil Hay Show podcast about the midfielder’s future.
“It’s been frustrating for Jamie. He’s not getting the minutes, but the side are winning. When he’s come on, he’s done well and Millwall have applauded that. But not enough minutes. He’s got a year at Leeds.
“It is probably something where we need to find him a permanent move away from Leeds. He needs to be starting games, and he’s good enough. The quality he has has not diminished in any way. He trains hard, works hard.”
As Evans alludes to, Shackleton is about to enter the final year of his contract at Elland Road. The 23-year-old has been a fairly constant presence in the squad for Gary Rowett’s side this season, making 36 appearances in all competitions.
The issue for Shackleton is that he has only managed 16 starts in the league from those appearances, with most games recently small cameos for less than 15 minutes from the bench.
Here, our writers Adam (Statto) and Kris (FA5) discuss whether now is the right time for Shackleton to depart Leeds for pastures new…
The only world where Shackleton could remain at the club as an asset is if they are relegated.
He would be a handy squad player who can play central-midfield, defensive-midfield, and at right-back/right wing-back, too.
If Leeds are a Premier League club, then he is simply surplus to requirements, and the Whites need to cash in for whatever they can get for Shackleton with a year on his deal.
He has no future with the club in the top flight and there should be no shortage of suitors in the Championship who will be keen on signing him for a cut-price deal.
He could be a good utility player for a number of teams at that level, but not for his boyhood team in the Premier League, where there are far too many players ahead of him in the pecking order. At his age he needs a permanent switch and to be playing regular first-team football.
Shackleton has to find a home now.
I would be amazed if Shackleton had any future at Leeds after this season is up, even if we are relegated back to the Championship.
His struggles to nail a starting place at Millwall don’t exactly scream of a player that Leeds should be fighting to keep hold of in the summer.
He has talent and the ability to be an important player in the Championship, but that potential won’t be fulfilled at Leeds, and it’s best for all parties if we cash in.
I doubt Millwall will be the side that he ends up at, given Rowett isn’t that convinced by him, but this regular playing time from the bench and with plenty of starts should have brought Shackleton on a lot more.
Hopefully he does find a good club in the summer, because there’s a tidy player there.
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