This versatile Leeds United midfielder has found himself on the sidelines more often than not recently, a situation influenced by both the depth of Daniel Farke’s squad and his own string of injuries.
At the onset of the 23/24 season, Farke faced squad selection dilemmas, at one point even having to include two goalkeepers on the bench for a game due to limited player availability. Fast forward to the present, and the scenario has flipped, with Farke now having to make tough calls on who to leave out of the matchday 18.
Shackleton was a pivotal figure for Leeds in pre-season and the early stages of the season, bringing versatility and dynamism to the team when options were thin. However, since making a substantial impact at the beginning of the season, his role has significantly diminished, with his last appearance in the starting lineup dating back to October.
The resurgence of Leeds in terms of both squad depth and quality has coincided with a frustrating period for Shackleton, who has been sidelined with various injuries, including a recent concussion that excluded him from the lineups against Stoke City and Sheffield Wednesday.
Adding to Shackleton’s challenges is the looming expiration of his contract in the summer. Despite a promising start under Farke’s regime, his contributions have waned, in part due to injury setbacks, leaving his future at the club uncertain.
As Leeds push forward, building a team capable of securing promotion, Shackleton’s ongoing recovery and contract situation pose questions about his potential involvement in the remaining part of the season. With Farke now blessed with numerous options, whether Shackleton will don the Leeds jersey again this campaign remains an open question.
