Injuries have been mounting up against Leeds United all season and the setback to Stuart Dallas over the last week has handed Jamie Shackleton the chance of an extended run in the starting line-up.  

Leeds have lost Dallas, Gaetano Berardi and Luke Ayling to injury, meaning Shackleton was forced to deputise on the right of defence on Saturday, as Marcelo Bielsa’s side beat Queens Park Rangers 2-1.

And, Shackleton impressed, with @LUFCDATA revealing some of the impressive numbers from the 90 minutes he completed against the R’s.

Shackleton finished the game with a passing accuracy of 94%, which was the most of any player who started Saturday’s match.

Amongst other impressive numbers, the 19-year-old also won two aerial duels, with his lack of height clearly not impacting his ability in the air.

An extended run in the starting XI now beckons for Shackleton, with Leeds’ crop of right-backs set to be out for a significant period.

Last week, Bielsa provided an update, confirming that Dallas and Berardi would both be out of action until the New Year, although Ayling could return before the end of December.

The Verdict

Shackleton was impressive against Queens Park Rangers and didn’t look like he was making only his second start of the season for Leeds.

These are challenging times for Leeds, with injuries mounting up against Bielsa and his squad.

However, the maturity and quality that these youngsters are showing is a bonus and helping Leeds pick up some vital points in the race for promotion.

Thoughts? Let us know!

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