Marcelo Bielsa makes claim concerning Leeds’s Jamie Shackleton

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Leeds United boss Marcelo Bielsa has seemingly suggested, in comments reported by Leeds Live, that Jamie Shackleton is on another level compared with many of the brightest youngsters in the Championship.

Shackleton is going into this weekend’s clash with Charlton Athletic looking to make his third league start in a row. The teenager was handed a tough task as he came in for Adam Forshaw, who picked up an injury after an inspired start to the season.

But the teenager has been able to fill the void left by Forshaw. He was outstanding against Barnsley, and hardly put a foot wrong in the frustrating draw with Derby County at the weekend.

With Bielsa suggesting that Forshaw is now back fit, Shackleton faces a tough task trying to hold onto his place in the team. But the Leeds boss gave the youngster a major vote of confidence ahead of Saturday’s trip to the Valley.

“One team has more than 11 players into the match. Ayling, Douglas and Berardi can play a standard match. Shackleton can consider himself as one of the 11 starters. Nketiah, Costa are not playing, but they can start matches,” he said, as reported by Leeds Live.

“The good thing about Shackleton is, when he plays, the team works, even if I play another team. This is very good for one player of 20 and it’s difficult to achieve this.

“There are a lot of young players with skills to play in the Championship. Maybe they have played matches, maybe they play well, but being part of the 15/16 who can start is a new level and Shack is there.”

TBR’s View

What has been so impressive about Shackleton is that he has arguably got pass marks every time he has played for the first-team.

It has not mattered that he has rarely been able to enjoy a long run of games, or that he has made a number of appearances at right-back. He has stepped up.

And it is testament to how good he has been in this latest run that it would not be a surprise at all if Forshaw had to wait a little longer to get back into the side following his return from injury.