This article is part of Football FanCast’s In Numbers series, which takes a statistical look at performances, season-long form and reported transfer targets…
Just as Jamie Shackleton was building up ahead of steam this season, he was rather cruelly ruled out for around a month with injury.
At times, the teenager has looked more than ready to start in the Championship and his performance against Barnsley was fine evidence of that.
The 20-year-old showed quick changes of pace, was good in possession and was also able to bring others into play with his measured passing of the football.
However, on other occasions, he’s attracted his doubters.
His performance at Oakwell in the middle of the pitch provided us with a fine glimpse of what he’s capable of.
Shackleton is a dynamic individual blessed with a host of all-round qualities. He’s good going forward and he’s also firm in defensive scenarios.
The very fact Marcelo Bielsa has trusted him at right-back 11 times supports that theory.
It’s in defence where he’s begun to make his name but just as he’d pounced on Adam Forshaw’s injury in the centre, he was sat on the sidelines himself.
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That would likely have caused some anxiety in the youngster’s body but arguably so will a link to Chelsea’s Reece James.
The 19-year-old is reportedly being targeted ahead of a possible loan switch to Leeds in January and considering he plays in both of Shackleton’s positions, he would have every right to worry.
But it’s Leeds’ very own academy product that should make Victor Orta think again when attempting to do a deal.
James was exceptional when it came to creativity last term and not only delivered 1.6 crosses per game, but also played 1.6 key passes and managed 2.1 tackles, via WhoScored.
Those final two qualities are ones that match up with Shackleton’s performance versus Barnsley, but despite James registering three assists to the former’s two last term he actually tops him in one aspect.
The 20-year-old didn’t play regularly enough but if he had last season, there is a reason to believe he’d have come away from it with more assists than James – especially given the data provided by LUFC Data above.
That is one of the reasons Shackleton is a better option than Chelsea’s full-back but it’s also important to factor in overall development too.
Frank Lampard has had big things to say about James in the past, explaining: “I think he’s going to be a top player.
“I did a lot of work with the Academy at Chelsea last year, and I saw a lot of him, trained with him a lot. It was very evident the player he already is – and the player he will hopefully become.”
However, why would Leeds develop a player who doesn’t belong to the club for the best part of five months when they could just progress one of their own?
Shackleton could just end up stalling so he needs to be the focus here, not James.