The injury to Pontus Jansson that has seen the Sweden international ruled out of tonight’s trip to Swansea could well see the chance for a another youngster. Jamie Shackleton made the step into first-team football at Derby County after an injury to Stuart Dallas, others may now get that chance.
Marcelo Bielsa may well decide a return to the squad is best for Tyler Roberts, leaving Tom Pearce in the squad. If a centre-back was to come off for any reason Luke Ayling would probably head inside and Jamie Shackleton would come on at right-back.
This many not be the case though because in the under 23’s Bielsa has a few options at centre-back, and players who he’s either been impressed by or have played under him in pre-season.
Conor Shaughnessy is the obvious choice. The young Irish centre-back played at Millwall in the under 23 win yesterday but as we’ve seen before Bielsa will use players on the bench even if they have played 24 hours earlier.
Shaughnessy has been one of the players that’s impressed Marcelo Bielsa and someone he probably thinks he can help develop. Bielsa was at Nethermoor last week to watch his return to football after an injury, he played the holding midfield role.
He isn’t the only player, Hugo Diaz featured in three games under Bielsa in pre-season. The Spanish centre-back did struggle at times, the physical side of the games seemed to be an issue, especially at Guiseley where he couldn’t cope against a big number nine. Whether or not he is deemed ready to make this step only Bielsa knows, he has featured in the first-team at Preston North End last season.
The other option is Dutch centre-back Pascal Struijk. The ex-Ajax youngster has impressed when he’s played for the under 23’s but he hasn’t had the smoothest of starts. Injuries seem to have kept him out but he was given a squad number this year and looked at ease in Leeds’ win over Coventry last week as Bielsa watched on.
Powerful and extremely comfortable on the ball you would expect nothing less with someone who has come through the Ajax academy.
