Championship outfit Leeds United have started their new season in a spectacular manner, having bagged 20 points from their first 9 games in the league. Their latest outing resulted in a 3-2 win over Ipswich Town this weekend at the Elland Road and looking at the manner in which they have plied their trade so far, it is evident that they would be one of the contenders for clinching the English second division silverware.
Under the tutelage of Thomas Christiansen, the summer transfer window turned out to be a productive one. The Whites managed to rope in some quality names such as Ezgjan Alioski, Samu Saiz, Felix Wiedwald and Pawel Cibicki to name a few.
The personnel at the disposal of Christiansen have been hitting the right chords, including their summer signings. However, one of the players who have pleased a lot of fans has been their promising youngster Conor Shaughnessy.
Shaughnessy emerged through the youth ranks of Reading and Leeds United, before being handed a call to the senior side of the latter. He was a midfielder initially in the youth academies of the Royals as well as the Peacocks, but his strong physique has enabled Christiansen to slot him into the central defence.
Despite being a 21-year-old, he has knocked on the door of the first-team squad very quickly in his career and he catered to the central defensive needs of his employers this season when their options grew thin.
The Ireland-born player starlet did look immensely confident during the opportunities that have been handed to him and seemingly appeared to be someone who has more to offer than being a deputy. He clears the dangers time and again, reads the attacking endeavours of the opposition with brilliance and doesn’t refrain from getting into tight circumstances. Besides, he is talented, has the requisite calibre to go the distance and with the age factor by his side, his career would most likely see an upward trajectory.
Shaughnessy has been handed 6 appearances so far this season, including 3 games in the Championship wherein he registered 0.7 tackles, 0.7 interceptions, 7 clearances and 1.7 blocks per game on an average apart from bagging an assist as well. The Yorkshire based club have recently extended his contract up to the summer of 2021 as a reward to his excellence. He might be inexperienced, but the deal is a commendable move by Leeds United if we consider what Shaughnessy is capable of showcasing.
