Shaughnessy must outperform O’Connor this season to save his Leeds future

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Leeds United have decided to send Conor Shaughnessy out on loan to Scottish Premiership side Hearts.

And this could be the last chance for Shaughnessy to save his career at Leeds.

Despite a defensive crisis this season, Marcelo Bielsa has been reluctant to use Shaughnessy.

The central defender has played just one game this season, which was a 45 minute cameo against Preston North End in the EFL Cup.

And young Finnish defender Aapo Halme has jumped ahead of the 22-year-old in the pecking order.

Shaughnessy will now spend the rest of the season with Hearts and he will be 23 when he returns to Leeds next summer.

With time running out for the Republic of Ireland under-21 man, this loan spell is vital for him.

Bielsa will be keeping his tabs on how his players are doing out on loan and Shaughnessy needs to be performing better than his defensive team-mate Paudie O’Connor.

Bradford City are expected to sign O’Connor on loan, according to The Yorkshire Post.

The 21-year-old had been at Blackpool but has found himself in and out of the team.

O’Connor too needs to find consistency to save his Leeds career. And it might be a straight competition between him and Shaughnessy.

Both players are aiming to impress in the second half of the season in order to earn a place in the Leeds squad next year.