Jamie Shackleton is targeting an increased role at Leeds United this season.
The Thorp Arch product was one of several youngsters to step up from the academy and into Marcelo Bielsa's first-team squad last season, making seven starts and 17 appearances off the bench across all competitions.
His impressive performances, initially at right-back and later in his more familiar central midfield position, turned plenty of heads as the campaign went on, with the 19-year-old getting his first taste of international football at the end of the season when he was called up to England's under-20s side for the Toulon Tournament.
With that experience under his belt, his main goal after returning to Thorp Arch for pre-season training is to force his way into Bielsa's starting XI.
"Hopefully I can build upon last season, when I came in last summer I was fit and wanted to give everything in training and that's exactly how I'll be this season," he told the Leeds United website .
"The aim is to get more game time, hopefully I can get a place in the starting XI, keep hold of it and play as much as possible throughout the year."
Shackleton now has a week of pre-season training under his belt as he knuckles down ahead of next week's first pre-season friendly at York City.
"We've started as we mean to go on, we're running, we're training, we're doing the drills and back playing football.
"It's been tough, but that's how it should be."
As well as looking to nail down a starting place at Elland Road, Shackleton also reflected on his England experience as he sets himself another target.
"I really enjoyed the experience, there was only Tom [Pearce] there that I knew and had played with before, but all of the lads were really nice, and welcomed me into the group.
"I feel I adapted quite well to what the coaches were requiring from us and hopefully I can continue to play with them.
"The aim now is to work my way up through the different age groups with England."
