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Jamie Shackleton at Millwall: How’s he getting on? Will Leeds United be happy with his development so far?

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Image for Jamie Shackleton at Millwall: How’s he getting on? Will Leeds United be happy with his development so far?

In a busy summer transfer window at Leeds United, Jamie Shackleton was one of a number of players allowed to leave the Elland Road club on loan.

Having come through the youth ranks at the club, the versatile midfielder is not exactly a stranger to first-team football with the Whites.

Shackleton has 79 appearances in all competitions for Leeds, but with just 27 of them coming in the last two seasons in the Premier League, a move elsewhere to secure more game time did make sense.

As a result, the 22-year-old is spending the 2022/23 season on loan in the Championship with Millwall, where he has linked up with another Leeds loanee, centre back Charlie Cresswell.

So just how has Shackleton fared during his time in South East London so far? We’ve begun to take a look at that, right here.

How’s he getting on?

It does certainly look to have been a rather productive spell with Millwall for Shackleton up until this point.

So far this season, Shackleton has featured in all eight of the Lions’ Championship outings, and has started in all but one of those games.

Interestingly, the 22-year-old has also been substituted in five of those matches, meaning he has only completed the full 90 minutes twice, although many of his withdrawals have been late on in games.

During that time, he has helped Gary Rowett’s side to three wins and one draw from those league outings, putting them 14th in the current standings.

By contrast, Shackleton was an unused substitute for Millwall’s one EFL Cup match this season, a 1-0 defeat to Cambridge in the first round of the competition.

Will Leeds be happy?

You do get the feeling that Leeds will be happy with how things have gone for Shackleton since making that move to The Den.

Ultimately, the main aim of this move will have been to give the midfielder game time, after what has been a frustrating couple of seasons for him at Elland Road.

That is something he is certainly getting with Gary Rowett’s side, and the fact he was rested for that Cup game, suggests he is seen as an important figure for Millwall, when it comes to the priority of the league.

Indeed, the fact that Shackleton looks to have become an important player for Rowett’s side could be significant for Leeds in other ways as well.

The 22-year-old midfielder will be entering the final year of his contract with Leeds next summer. This move is therefore potentially a chance for him to put himself in the shop window.

Indeed, while not confirmed by either club, reports have suggested there is an option to make this loan move permanent next summer.

Given the way Millwall have used him so far, they may be open to taking up that option, which would give Leeds a solution over Shackleton’s future, with the midfielder at a stage where he needs to play regularly.

Does Shackleton have a future at Leeds?

Yes

Yes

No

No

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UCLan Sports Journalism graduate. Have been working for Leeds All Over since summer 2020, and can only be found writing on Football League World.