SHEFFIELD United manager Chris Wilder has provided words of encouragement to Jamie Shackleton after his squad omission - and wants him to now fully focus on his fitness in order to 'reignite' his career next season.
Earlier this week, the former Leeds United utility player, 26 - who has had an injury-hit time of it since switching from Elland Road in the summer of 2024 - was omitted from the Blades' 25-man squad list submitted to the EFL for the rest of the current campaign.
Following the closure of the winter transfer window, clubs must name a squad of 25 players over the age of 21 to pick from for the remainder of the season.
All players born on or after 1 January, 2004 do not need to be named and are automatically eligible, although all players loaned in, regardless of age, need to be registered.
Jamie Shackleton has been left out of Sheffield United’s 25-man squad selection.placeholder image
Jamie Shackleton has been left out of Sheffield United’s 25-man squad selection.
Shackleton has made just three substitute appearances this term, with the last arriving in October. A knee injury sustained in a pre-season friendly at Rotherham United last summer has significantly hindered his progress.
Wilder, whose side visit Portsmouth in the Championship on Saturday, said: "He's around the group. It's been a difficult period for Shacks.
"But he's working his way back. We've talked about a medium to longer term plan with him now. So I think he's identifying that maybe this season we're not really going to get anything from him.
"And we need to get him above a level. Maybe not just at that level where he's coming back and training and available, but maybe go above that to make him physically more durable than maybe what's happened over the last 18 months.
Sheffield United manager Chris Wilder ahead of the Sky Bet Championship match at Bramall Lane, Sheffield. Picture date: Monday February 9, 2026. PA Photo. Photo: Nick Potts/PA Wire.placeholder image
Sheffield United manager Chris Wilder ahead of the Sky Bet Championship match at Bramall Lane, Sheffield. Picture date: Monday February 9, 2026. PA Photo. Photo: Nick Potts/PA Wire.
"He's been incredibly unlucky. The bang he took against Rotherham for one of the early games in pre-season when he was in decent nick.
"I think everybody saw the qualities that Shacks brought to us. A free transfer from Leeds United and a smart signing with what he did at Leeds.
And (then) unfortunately the injury he got at Rotherham. It's gone from there really. Trying to get Shacks back to a situation where he comes back flying in pre-season and can reignite his career here."