Jamie Shackleton could return to face Queens Park Rangers next Saturday after recovering from a hamstring injury. The 20-year-old has been out of action since the start of October, missing four Championship games, but he was passed fit last Saturday and featured for the u23s in midweek.
Shackleton has made eight appearances in all competitions for Leeds this season, last featuring against West Bromwich Albion on October 1. He was absent for the Whites’ 2-1 defeat to Millwall (October 5), 1-0 win over Birmingham City (October 19), 1-1 draw with Preston North End (October 22) and 0-0 draw with Sheffield Wednesday (October 26).
Kalvin Phillips & Mateusz Klich have played together in a 4-4-2 while Shackleton has been out. Stuart Dallas has been used in a three-man midfield at times too. Leeds are struggling for form of late, having won just once in their last four games, so the 20-year-old’s return could be significant.
Shackleton has been on the winning side in four of his six league appearances, suffering just one defeat, while helping Leeds to four clean sheets. United have just three wins in eight games without him. He’s an important player to Bielsa and clearly a good omen when on the pitch.