Daniel Farke, the manager of Leeds United, is about to make a difficult decision. For Jamie Shackleton, Djed Spence must start at Millwall.
Jamie Shackleton‘s progress at Leeds United this summer has left many impressed, but Daniel Farke could make a harsh decision on him against Millwall.
On 14 September, The Athletic journalist Phil Hay reported that the 23-year-old’s “rock-solid” fitness standards and dominance in the bleep test, combined with his dedication to training, had drawn the attention of Daniel Farke and his team.
According to the respected journalist, Farke might initiate contract discussions with Shackleton due to his commitment and growth, but the club has yet to offer him one.
Shackleton, who has been with Leeds for 17 years, is out of contract at the end of the season, but his early-season performances have suggested that he may have a future beyond next summer.
Indeed, in the Whites’ last Championship game before the international break, a 0-0 draw with Sheffield Wednesday, Shackleton averaged the joint-third highest score of any Leeds United player with 7.6/10 [SofaScore] in an impressive and solid performance.
The 23-year-old won six of his total duels, had 99 touches, completed 89% of his passes, 100% of his long balls, and 75% of his dribbles, and made three important passes. [SofaScore] and he surely put up comparable figures in the EFL Cup penalty shootout victory over Salford City.
Those two performances showed a player hungry to prove himself at the club and one who is experiencing a wonderful resurgence at the club, but given the Whites’ long-term concerns at left-back, Shackleton should only be regarded a short-term option, as brutal as that may appear.
Farke already has a player capable of filling the role, at least until the injured Sam Byram [Phil Hay, 29 August] returns. That player is Tottenham loanee Spence.
According to the official Leeds website, the full-back joined the Whites on a season-long loan in a last-minute transfer in the closing days of the transfer window on 30 August, becoming the club’s sixth summer signing.
Spence is unquestionably a high talent, and he can undoubtedly assist Leeds in their quest to return to the Premier League at the first time of asking, as he did with Nottingham Forest the season before last.
While Spence is regarded as a specialist right-back, he can also be a very dependable left-back for Leeds United, and the teenager possesses all of the skills and qualities required to succeed in the role and assist the Whites to a much-needed victory in South London on Sunday, September 17.
Many of the continent’s top teams use right-footed full-backs on the left wing to invert possession while giving numerical advantage, and Spence is a great option for the role.
That 2021/22 season appeared to be Spence‘s breakout year at Nottingham Forest, as he registered two goals and four assists from 42 Championship appearances while registering six big chances created, 1.0 key passes per game, helping Forest to 15 clean sheets, and excelling tremendously in his defensive actions [SofaScore], distinguishing him as one of the most complete young full-backs in the country and receiving glowing praise from Arsenal legend Ian Wright hailing him as “utmost talented.”
Spence impressed when he came off the bench to make his Elland Road debut against Sheffield Wednesday, winning two fouls in nine minutes, saving two certain goals with impressive tackles, completing 100% of his nine attempted passes, and managing four ball recoveries as Farke‘s side drew 0-0 with the Owls (Fotmob).
He will bet on himself to earn a starting spot against Millwall at The Den, maybe at the cost of the ever-improving Shackleton. Farke‘s decision may appear harsh at first, but it could have long-term benefits.
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