Amid the monumental relief that followed Leeds United’s first Premier League win of the season came true delight.
It was etched on the face of a rain-soaked Jamie Shackleton at full-time as he returned the applause from Elland Road’s raucous South Stand.
The 21-year-old was the last player to head down the tunnel and, after a fine performance at right-back which earned him accolades from Marcelo Bielsa, Shackleton was entitled to savour the moment.
It was his third successive start for Leeds and felt a significant step forward in his career, and also reward for his professionalism, versatility and patience.
The boyhood Leeds fan joined the club’s vaunted academy aged eight and progressed through the ranks before making his senior debut aged 18 in a 4-1 win at Derby County in August 2018.
With Luke Ayling such a key figure at right-back though, and the likes of Kalvin Phillips, Stuart Dallas and Mateusz Klich similarly pivotal in midfield, regular game-time has been hard to come by. But with Ayling currently absent due to a knee injury which has required minor surgery, the homegrown product has been handed a major opportunity to shine.
Sharp in the tackle and neat in distribution against Watford, Shackleton will hope for an extended run in the side as he looks to nail down a regular spot.
“It’s always my aim to be on the pitch and it’s where I enjoy being,” he said after helping Leeds to victory at the seventh attempt this season after Diego Llorente’s 18th-minute goal, a well-executed close-range finish from Raphinha’s corner, lifted them out of the relegation places.
“When I’m on there, I’m going to give 100 per cent to try and help the team and come away with results like we did here.
“It’s a relief because it took us a few games to get that first win but we have got it and it’s something to go and build on now.
“We deserved to win because we played well, so hopefully we can continue that bit of momentum we have got going now.
“We haven’t played our best football as of yet and haven’t met some of the levels of last season but it’s important that we got that win.”
Bielsa’s dominant side enjoyed 67 per cent of possession and had 20 shots at goal against a Watford side whose woeful display cost Xisco Munoz his job.
But for Leeds, and Shackleton, things are finally looking up.
from Football – inews.co.uk https://ift.tt/3l6OUdk
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