Jamie Shackleton ready and waiting for Leeds United's crucial final six games

A season disrupted by injuries has seen Shackleton make just four league starts and 12 outings from the bench with the Academy graduate missing two months between the end of November and end of January.

But the 20-year-old midfielder or full-back says he is now back at the peak of his powers as the Whites approach six games in the space of 19 days that will decide United’s automatic promotion fate.

Having endured hamstring issues earlier on in the campaign, Shackleton made seven outings from the bench after returning as a second-half substitute in the 3-2 loss at Millwall at the end of January.

The England under-20s international was then an unused substitute in United’s first game back after lockdown at Cardiff City with the 20-year-old then replacing Pablo Hernandez as an 89th-minute change in the 3-0 win at home to Fulham.

With Gjanni Alioski already on as a substitute for injured skipper Liam Cooper, Shackleton was then introduced in the 89th-minute of Tuesday’s 1-1 draw at home to Luton Town as United suffered another injury – to Stuart Dallas.

With the games coming thick and fast and placing demands on Championship leaders United’s squad, Shackleton says he is now back in excellent shape and ready and waiting be it from the start or the bench.

“It’s been a frustrating one missing three or four months in the middle of the season,” said Shackleton.

“It’s been a bit stop start on a personal note for me but these things happen and you have got to get on with it.

“I am just happy now that I am back fully fit and can give 100 per cent.

“Being out was frustrating and tough to deal with. You can’t change it, all you can do once it’s happened is just go again and make sure it’s right the next time.

"It took a while, it took three or four months but now I am back where I want to be, I am back 100 per cent fit and I am happy to be available for selection again because that’s the most important thing.

“I am over the moon to be feeling fit and strong again.”

Asked if he felt a start was near, Shackleton said: “You never know what is going to happen with the schedule being as busy as it is.

"Little niggles are more likely so the players on the bench and waiting their chance have to be ready and I think all the lads are in good shape and ready to do so.”

Since making his Whites debut in August 2018, Shackleton has made seven league starts and ended last season in fine form, starting the play-off semi-final second leg defeat at home to Derby County.

Twelve months on, Shackleton hopes the hurt of that loss will now stand Leeds in even better stead to seal automatic promotion one year on.

He reasoned: “The experiences from last year and the pain from last year should definitely add that little bit more motivation if you need any to get over the line and not fall short as we did last year.

“We feel good. Everyone has trained hard this week and recovered well from the game the other night and are ready to go again and put everything into this next game so that’s what it’s about now, moving on and getting the three points again.”