Page 10 - We Are Premier League: LUFC Promotion YEP Special

38 I YORKSHIREEVENINGPOST vww.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk Saturday.July25,2020
WE ARE PREMIER LEAGUE: LUFC SPECIAL SUPPLEMENT
DreaRis come
trueforyoung
Shackleton as
big time awaits
There have been a number of individual success stories in this so memorable of
campaigns for Leeds United, with one yong midfielder's willingness to listen and
learn from those above and around him standing out. Joe Urquhart reports.
IF YOU'RE looking for a
local boy in Leeds United’s
promotion-winning squad then
the search would be over fairly
quickly.
Marcelo Bielsas history-
makers are littered
with high class
talent from the
first team to
development
ranks but
a similar
theme recurs
throughout.
The more
immediate and
obvious choice
that springs
to mind when
searching for
a local angle is
hard-hitting midfielder Kalvin
Phillips, who has become
somewhat ofa shining light for
Thorp Arch’s production line in
recent seasons.
A dive a little deeper past
the ‘Yorkshire Pirlo’, though,
uncovers that Leeds grit has
had a key role to play this term
in helping shape the second
division champions, most
notably behind closed doors.
Bielsas first-team squad has
amixoftop-classtalentbut
a second wave underneath is
built from the best ofwhat the
club’s academy produces; the
faces that push those above
them in the pecking order each
and every day on the training
pitch.
ThemajorityofUnited’s
matchday squads have been
filled out with the club’s
emerging talent - a lot of which
Yorkshire can boast.
Robbie Gotts and Oliver
Casey arejust two of those who
have featured more heavily
than most but there is one in
larger supporting role than his
peers,
Upon Bielsa’s arrival a little
over two years ago, Jamie
Shackleton was one of the
first names on his lips - and a
appearances - but Bielsa
doesn’tjust hand out
opportunities for the sake of it;
they are earned. Shackleton’s
chances have come through
hard work, determination and
taking information on board
while learning from those
around him.
He has even been studying
for his first UEFA pro licence.
Now,just a little over 12
months on from lifting the
Under-23s national title for
the club, he’s heading to
the Premier League with a
Championship trophy under
his arm in the knowledge his
role was a crucial one for his
boyhood team.
“The last few days have
been perfect as a Leeds lad.
It’s everything that I could
have dreamed of,” he told the
Yorkshire Evening Post.
“All the lads and Marcelo are
over the moon. There’s been a
STRIKE ONE: Jamie Shackleton, above, turns to celebrate his first goal for Leeds United in last Sunday’s
3-1 win over Derby County. The youngster has blossomed under head coach Marcelo Bielsa and Under-23s
coach Carlos Corberan, top right, as well as experienced players like Pablo Herandez, above right.
oarticular who has olaved a
have wanted.”
___
LEADING BY EXAMPLE
Midfielder Kalvin Phillips.
promotion to the senior
ranks followed
swiftly.
“Jamie has
a maturity
which does not
correspond to
his age,” Bielsa
revealed last
year. “He plays
like a veteran.”
By Shackleton’s
own admission
it all came
quickly and
unexpectedly, as
he made 19 appearances in the
65-year-old s debut campaign.
Similar numbers were
recorded this year - making
five starts and 17 substitute
lot of smiles over the past few
days and I can imagine many
more for a couple ofweeks
before we start focusing on the
next season.”
As Leeds were presented
with the Championship trophy,
a picture later emerged on
social media.
It showed Gotts and
Shackleton along with fellow
academy graduate Alfie
McCalmont as young boys in
the Leeds youth system; the
adjoining photograph was of
the trio holding the club’s first
piece of silverware in 28 long
years.
It capped off a whirlwind
few days for the attacking
midfielder, who bagged his
first senior goal at Derby
County before making it two
in two games against Charlton
Athletic.
“I’ve had a couple ofstarts
and I’ve come offthe bench
quite a few times so to finally
get that first goal is brilliant ” he
continued.
“Not only am I champions
with my boyhood club, but to
get. my first goal as well, isjust a
perfect day.
“The occasion and us being
back in the Premier League
is something I’ve dreamed of
since being a little kid and it
has obviously been a brilliant
“It doesn’t matter what the
scenario is when myselfor any
of the lads put on a Leeds shirt
I’m going to make sure I give
everything."
Shackleton wasjust four
years old when Leeds fell out of
the top flight - a sentence that
perhaps reflects more on the
struggles of the club than any
other.
The likes oftop-flight
champions Liverpool along
with Manchester United and
City, Arsenal and Tottenham
Hotspur will all once again be
making the trip to El land Road
next season, only this time on
a more equal footing than in
previous cup competitions.
It’s been a long time coming
and Leeds have been forced
toseeanumberofacademy
graduates depart during the
period they have strived to earn
a return to Premier League
football.
Now. however, the latest crop
ofyoungsters won’t have to
go elsewhere in order to fulfil
their ambitions; the top flight
has been brought to them by
the class of 2020.
“Coming up against the best
league in the world and some of
the best players in the world.”
he said when he was asked
what he was most looking
forward to in the club’s first
season back.
“Playing in front of a full
Elland Road in front of football's
biggest names will be special
as well.
“It really is everything I could
STRIKE TWO: Jamie Shackleton made it two goals in as many games when scoring in Wednesday night's 4-0 win over Charlton
Athletic, above
left and. rioht. aets a move aoina for his team in the meetino between the same two teams at the Valiev earlier in the season, picture: tony Johnson
few days.