Leeds gifted another injury boost pre-Villa as Phil Hay relays news involving 'important' player

Leeds United midfielder Jamie Shackleton has recovered from injury and is available for selection against Aston Villa tonight, according to Phil Hay.

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.

Kalvin Phillips and Liam Cooper are in the final stages of their recoveries, whereas Adam Forshaw is fit again after missing the defeat to Newcastle United prior to the international break.

Shackleton, who Marcelo Bielsa labelled an ‘important’ player last year, has missed the last four Premier League fixtures after hobbling off with a heel issue against Manchester City, but he is now in line to make a return at Villa Park.

Leeds correspondent Hay 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.

Primarily a midfielder, Shackleton has made the majority of his appearances this season at right-back, 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 with Cooper sidelined, but having Shackleton in the squad is good news. He has 76 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