It is no secret the Leeds United academy is one of the best at producing talent in the UK, despite not being a Category 1 academy at this stage.

Marcelo Bielsa isn't afraid of relying on academy/u23 players to step into the first-team when the Championship schedule takes its toll on the squad.

In recent years Leeds have produced the likes of Lewis Cook, Fabian Delph and Sam Byram. All of which now playing in the Premier League having come through the ranks at Thorp Arch and then pulling on the white of Leeds before the draw of the top flight was too much.

Leeds have been considered a selling club more or less since their relegation from what was then Division One. That is the harsh reality of being in the Football League; it is hard to keep your best players which is why a good academy system is so important.

Jack Clarke is the latest player off the production line who left in the summer. Moving on from Clarke's sale Leeds have already been including at least three academy products in their matchday squad, not including Kalvin Phillips.

However, there are TWO more players who have continued to perform at u23 level and when called upon for league or cup action have made a case for a starting spot...

Jamie Shackleton

Jaime Shackleton was handed his first league start of the campaign last Sunday away at Barnsley. The terrier-like midfielder featured 19 times last campaign and has impressed when he has featured.

The centre midfielder/full-back epitomises Bielsa's philosophy of players being versatile, turning his hand to a number of positions and being incredibly fit being able to play the Bielsa brand of football.

Shackleton joined the academy in 2006, after 12 years developing Shackleton was part of the squad which travelled to Myanmar under Paul Heckingbottom for the club's post-season tour in 2018.

Shackleton has gone from strength to strength, grasping any and every opportunity put his way by Head Coach Marcelo Bielsa. His natural pace and surprising strength for a seemingly diminutive figure make him a very handy box-to-box midfielder.

Leif Davis

Like Shackleton, Davis is a versatile player, comfortably playing as a central defender or a left-back.

The young defender was brought in from Morecambe in July 2018 and linked up with the u23 squad before quickly being promoted to the first-team squad.

Not quite the academy product that Shackleton is having not come through the age ranges at Thorp Arch but Davis is surely now looking at building on his one current first-team appearance this season.

The only problem for Davis at this stage is that the current Leeds defence is performing well and won't be interrupted unnecessarily by Bielsa. Davis will have to play the waiting game, potentially for an injury to get his chance, like Shackleton.

It is likely Shackleton will keep his place at the heart of the Leeds midfield while Forshaw is still out. If Shackleton continues where he left off against Barnsley it will be difficult for Forshaw to break back into the starting eleven.