Jamie Shackleton has endured 18 months of stop-start football but says he is now in a “pretty good spot” after finally putting his recurring hamstring problems behind him at Sheffield United

No player would ever have chosen to endure the injury frustration Jamie Shackleton has lived with since he arrived at Sheffield United. But the struggle appears to have given the former Leeds United man a new perspective on his life as a footballer.

The versatile midfielder has endured a series of setbacks, including a recurring hamstring problem, since swapping his boyhood club for South Yorkshire two summers ago. He suffered long spells away from the pitch and the return to full fitness became a stop-start process.

But Shackleton has now been fit since March and, after being able to build up his training and match involvement over a sustained period, belueves he is finally in a place where he feels able to give everything again.

“The fact that I'm pulling the shirt back on again, I'm in a lot better place,” he said ahead of this afternoon’s Bramall Lane clash with Norwich City. “Obviously, the first couple of seasons here, particularly the last 18 months, have been very stop-start through injuries and the same recurring injury, unfortunately.

“But yeah, back on the pitch and being able to help the lads, be involved in training and games again. So definitely, definitely in a good place. Eighteen months in football is a very long time ... much longer than 18 months feels in normal life.

“I've not been able to do what I've always done for such a long period of time. It was challenging, frustrating. But like I say, we are where we are now because of the hard work that myself and a lot of people around me have put in.”

The main problem was his hamstring, although smaller issues emerged during the rehabilitation process as he attempted to build himself back up. And Shackleton admits his own all-or-nothing mentality may not have helped.

“The main problem was a hamstring issue. And during rehab of that, there were smaller separate issues which come with long periods of time away from playing and training and then coming back in,” he said.

“And I think the type of player that I am and person that I am is, you know, once I'm in, it's all in, 100 per cent. So to go from nothing to 100 per cent, maybe wasn't the smartest idea. So we've learned to manage that a bit better, and I’m happy with where I’m at.”

Shackleton has appeared in three of United’s four Championship games so far this season and his versatility could earn him more opportunities going forward. “Since March, I've been fit and no issues and no problems,” he said.

“That's a long period of time to have been involved in training and games and stuff like that. So I feel like I'm in a pretty good spot.

“It’s difficult. Ask anybody who's had, you know, long-term injuries or back-to-back recurring injuries. For a footballer who wants to play football, it's as difficult as it can get, really.

“My friends, family, the people, important people around me massively, massively helped through what was a tough, tough period. It’s made me appreciate being fit, available, on the pitch an awful lot more.

“Like I said, it’s not a position that I’ve been in before, having such a long period out and probably took it a bit for granted that, you know, I could turn out, run around and compete and enjoy football every single week without any issues.

“And when that’s taken away from you, you know, you miss it. And now I'm back in a position that I can enjoy it again. I can probably enjoy it even more than what I used to.”