Daniel Farke has “underrated” option under his nose for Leeds United’s problem position this weekend – View
Leeds United may have resolved the left-back issue with a new signing, while hoping to have Junior Firpo back soon, but Jamie Shackleton looks to be a dependable option there.
The Whites are gearing up for their first Yorkshire Derby of the season as they take on Sheffield Wednesday at home this afternoon.
Daniel Farke’s transfer business is now wrapped up until the January window, to which he has solved a number of long-standing problems in the Leeds squad.
Left-back resolved?
A position that fans have been crying out for didn’t end up having much focus in the final hours and days of the transfer window, with no left-back brought in after Sam Byram’s previous arrival.
It’s a position that hasn’t been totally resolved for years, with Charlie Taylor’s exit in 2017 the beginning of a six-year issue at Elland Road.
With Junior Firpo still not up to full fitness and Byram picking up a recent setback, it leaves the club without many options on the left.
Jamie Shackleton to fill in?
Not many will have headed into this season with hopes of seeing Jamie Shackleton have a key role to play in the squad, but he is at the moment.
The versatile midfielder has played in a number of positions already this season, ranging from both full-back positions, midfield, and on the wing – all with reasonably solid performances too.
At left-back, Farke requires his player to invert and come inside to help build-up in the middle alongside Ethan Ampadu and co, which Shackleton did very well away at Ipswich in tricky circumstances, notching an assist that killed the game off in Leeds’ favour.
His energy is undoubted, and he’s showing the technical qualities needed to make it stick under Farke so far, to the point where Farke had to underline his quality performances after the Carabao Cup defeat:
