---
title: "Leeds: Jamie Shackleton available against Aston Villa"
canonical: "https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/leeds-team-news-shackleton-villa-injury-latest/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Charlie Smith"
section: "Leeds United"
published: "2022-02-09T07:15:13Z"
modified: "2022-02-09T07:15:13Z"
---

# Leeds: Jamie Shackleton available against Aston Villa

**Leeds United midfielder Jamie Shackleton has recovered from injury and is available for selection against Aston Villa tonight, according to [Phil Hay](https://twitter.com/PhilHay_/status/1490618019038613507).**

### The Lowdown: Injury issues

The Whites have had a number of injury problems to deal with in recent months, but there seems to be light at the end of the tunnel for the majority of those who had been sidelined.

\[freshpress-poll id=”387141″\]

Kalvin Phillips and Liam Cooper are in the [final stages](https://twitter.com/PhilHay_/status/1490613202165579776) of their recoveries, whereas [Adam Forshaw](https://twitter.com/PhilHay_/status/1490618019038613507) is fit again after missing the defeat to Newcastle United prior to the international break.

Shackleton, who Marcelo Bielsa labelled an [‘important’](https://www.leeds-live.co.uk/sport/leeds-united/every-word-marcelo-bielsa-southampton-19889629) player last year, has missed the last [four](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/jamie-shackleton/leistungsdaten/spieler/534700) Premier League fixtures after hobbling off with a [heel](https://www.leeds-live.co.uk/sport/leeds-united/leeds-united-injury-list-villa-23016764) issue against Manchester City, but he is now in line to make a return at Villa Park.

### The Latest: Hay’s tweet

Leeds correspondent [Hay](https://twitter.com/PhilHay_/status/1490618019038613507) took to Twitter on Monday morning following Bielsa’s pre-match press conference.

He posted that Shackleton, along with Forshaw and Charlie Cresswell, have all recovered from their respective issues and therefore could feature against Steven Gerrard’s side tonight.

### The Verdict: Good news

[Primarily](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/jamie-shackleton/profil/spieler/534700) a midfielder, Shackleton has made the majority of his appearances this season at [right-back](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/jamie-shackleton/leistungsdaten/spieler/534700), and following Cody Drameh’s loan exit last month, his return is most welcome for Leeds and Bielsa.

You’d expect that Luke Ayling will keep his place in the side and carry on as [captain](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/luke-ayling/leistungsdaten/spieler/67420) with Cooper sidelined, but having Shackleton in the squad is good news. He has [76](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/jamie-shackleton/leistungsdaten/spieler/534700) appearances for the Whites under his belt, making him one of the more experienced players at Elland Road despite being 22 years of age.

Hopefully, the likes of Phillips, Cooper and Patrick Bamford will follow in Shackleton’s footsteps in making a long-awaited return over the coming weeks in what could be a crucial month for Bielsa’s side.

***In other news: [Major update emerges regarding future of ‘amazing’ Leeds United hero; huge clubs circling](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/leeds-united-transfer-rumours/kalvin-phillips-transfer-interest-liverpool-man-utd-real-madrid/)***