Jamie Shackleton, a Whites Academy graduate, is only 23 years old, but the dynamic midfielder/full back found himself on the older players’ side in a recent Whites training game against the club’s youth. Shackleton joked on the Official Leeds United Podcast that his inclusion in the ‘old’ team came as a surprise to the club at initially and did not sit well with him personally.

Shackleton, who has been with Leeds since he was seven, and his senior colleagues, on the other hand, had the last laugh in defeating the Whites youngsters, particularly Archie Gray, who has made huge improvements since the start of the season.

Gray, who is still only 17 years old, earned his first team debut in this season’s Championship opener against Cardiff City at home, but the juvenile has started every game since for Daniel Farke’s side. Shackleton has been blown away, describing the Whites kid as “frightening” as he adjusts to his new status in a very young Whites club.

“He is unbelievable,” Shackleton observed of Gray. “It’s frightening for a 17-year-old to be competing and playing the way he is, going toe to toe and more often than not having the upper hand on experienced Championship men.” At 17, I was playing in the 23s; it wasn’t until 18 that I made the squad, but the level he is at is exceptional.”

Asked if he saw experienced opposition players getting frustrated when a young whipper-snapper like Gray got the better of them, Shackleton admitted: “I know I would be if I was them. He doesn’t stop either, he has got a serious engine on him as well. He is absolutely everywhere, flying into tackles and getting stuck in so if I was against him and knowing he is 17 it would probably do my head in.”

Shackleton, on the other hand, discovered that experience trumped youth in a recent elderly vs young Whites training match. “At the moment, I am more towards the senior side than the younger side in terms of our squad, which is crazy to say I am 23,” Shackleton said. However, we have a pretty youthful group.

“The other day, we had a young versus old game, and for the first time ever, I was just on the old team, and I was like, wow, 23, because obviously it is split down the middle.” To be honest, I didn’t think I enjoyed it. But the elders triumphed.”