Tony Dorigo makes Jamie Shackleton admission after Leeds loss

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Tony Dorigo has told LUTV’s The Big Match Preview that he wants to see Jamie Shackleton get a run in the Leeds United side, but admitted that he would not be surprised to see the youngster left out by Marcelo Bielsa this weekend.

Shackleton has been in and around the first-team throughout Bielsa’s tenure. He has rarely let the side down wherever he has been picked as well.

And it appeared that he was ready to take the next step in his career after coming on against Aston Villa last month. The 21-year-old was the beneficiary of Bielsa’s decision to replace the booked Pascal Struijk early on.

And he made the most of the chance. He produced an outstanding display in the middle of the park as Leeds went on to win 3-0.

His performance prompted Bielsa to promote Shackleton to the starting lineup against Leicester on Monday. Unfortunately, it proved to be a less successful night for the youngster, and for Leeds.

Shackleton was taken off at the break after struggling to make an impression on the game.

‘He deserves it’

Dorigo was clearly willing on Shackleton to impress once again. But he now fears that the academy graduate may be the man to miss out if Bielsa decides to make another change against Crystal Palace this weekend.

“I just feel a little bit unfortunate for Jamie because I really want him to get a bit of a run in the side,” he told LUTV. “I think he deserves it. However, when you look at that performance, he just didn’t have the impact that his other appearances have.”

Shackleton does appear to be unlucky that Leeds do seem to have so much depth in the middle of the park. But, while it did not quite work out against Leicester, the performance against Villa reminded everyone that his time will come – even if it is still not quite yet.