Leeds loanee Jamie Shackleton sees his patience pay off as Millwall opportunity comes his way

Jamie Shackleton is set to get a run in Millwall’s midfield after Billy Mitchell was ruled out for up to two months with an ankle injury.

Leeds loanee Shackleton had not started a league match for the Lions since the end of October before Saturday’s 3-2 victory over Sheffield United at The Den.

But the 23-year-old produced one of his strongest displays since making a temporary move to SE16 as he seamlessly stepped in to partner George Saville in the middle of the park.

Shackleton has made 29 appearances for Millwall, the most matches he has played in one campaign, but 14 of those have been substitute roles coming on in the closing stages.

The former England U20 international was seen as an option to play at right wing-back but Lions manager Gary Rowett shifted to a four-man backline since October.

Mitchell’s absence is bad news for the South Londoners, with their academy product a first-team regular, but it also provides an opening for Shackleton to show what he can do.

“Patience is one of the hardest things in football but it is also one of the main things,” said Shackleton. “It’s about being ready to play when injury or form gives you an opportunity.

“We’ve got a couple of injuries at the moment and people who haven’t played as much are now playing – it’s important that they are ready to slot into the team and not make it look too different.

“It was the same for Cressy (Charlie Cresswell). He has done really well since he came back into the team and found a bit of form.

“I’ve enjoyed myself at Millwall. I started playing in the team in the first couple of months and then we changed shape. I’m happy to be back in the side, it’s the whole reason I came on loan.

“I wanted to get more minutes and as much experience as possible. I’ve had to do that in different ways with the appearances I’ve got so far.”

Millwall are fifth in the table after successive home matches against Sheffield United and Burnley, in the top three for form over the past 10 matches along with Middlesbrough.

Shackleton played 72 minutes in each one.

“We make a point of starting games well and on Saturday we did that,” he said.

“We put a good team right under pressure and that continued, and lasted, most of the game. In terms of all-round, it was probably my best performance for Millwall. I had some good games earlier in the season.

“We weren’t the favourites or expected to go and get anything from that game – or on Tuesday night. To come away with four points is good.

“Against Burnley we had to work very hard off the ball. We knew we were going to have to, because they shift it and moved us about very well.

“But we did our best to limit them to as few opportunities as possible – kept ourselves in the game – and Bradders (Tom Bradshaw) came on and nicked a late point for us, which was important.

“All the work and running we did off the ball meant we probably deserved something from the game. We probably didn’t play as much good stuff and flowing football to get forward as much as we’d have liked – because they pressed well. Burnley were good on and off the ball.

“We keep an eye on the teams around us and check the scores to see how everybody is doing, but the games are coming thick and fast – if you talk too much about that (the play-offs) then it could get away from you.”