Former Leeds United striker Noel Whelan has identified youngster Jamie Shackleton as the solution to Kalvin Phillips’s three-match suspension.

The Whites are to be without their star holding midfielder, Phillips, for the next three games after his rash, forceful tackle on QPR’s Geoff Cameron saw him given a straight red card on Saturday afternoon, to cap off a miserable day for Marcelo Bielsa and Leeds.

Leeds fell to a disappointing 1-0 defeat, to then see Phillips dismissed with just two minutes to play. This tackle now means Leeds are to be without the lynchpin to their system for the next three games, where they face Millwall and Wigan Athletic at home before the trip to Nottingham Forest, where Phillips was dismissed for a similar challenge last season.

It is always a lingering question of how Leeds would set up without Phillips in holding midfield, given how important the role is to Bielsa’s tactical setup. Adam Forshaw and Ben White have been the two main players to operate there in Phillips’ absences over the last 18 months.

However, speaking to Football Insider, Noel Whelan believes that 20-year-old Jamie Shackleton is the man to step up in the wake of Phillips’ three-game ban. He stated: “Shackleton probably could.

“I think Jamie Shackleton has that kind of energy, that tenacity which is needed, but it’s a big role to play.

“It’s big big big boots to fill when it comes to covering Kalvin Phillips, so that is the million-dollar question.

“So what is Bielsa thinking? What direction is he going to go?”

While Leeds will be expected to overcome at least Millwall and Wigan at Elland Road, it is still a tough role to be able to both break up opposition play and dictate Leeds’ alongside.

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The verdict

I’m not convinced that Shackleton is the man to start in holding midfield against Millwall due to the fiery nature of the contest at hand, along with the fact that he is only just returning from a lengthy injury lay-off.

Ben White slotted in against Huddersfield Town back in December and looked somewhat comfortable after a shaky start, so it would be most likely that Bielsa resorts to that solution.

However, Whelan is definitely right in why he believes Shackleton could operate there, given the strengths of his performances and what he brings to this Leeds side every time he plays.