Stuart Dallas has had an up and down career at Leeds United. It seems like the club have moved along huge strides since his arrival under Uwe Rosler. The ex-Brentford boss re-signed the player when he arrived at Leeds United and once again, his value is rising, now it’s for a very different reason.
Dallas arrived as a winger, nothing else. He was someone who could play down both sides and there was much expected of the player as the season began. Assists against Derby County and Sheffield Wednesday got his career off to a great start but the side didn’t impress as the season went on. Dallas kept his place and ended the season as one of the better players, but his lack of pace was causing issues as the next season arrived under Garry Monk.
Hadi Sacko had arrived and he was the new man who players looked to in wide areas. Souleymane Doukara had surprised and was getting a game under Monk, Roofe had signed and Dallas was playing a bit-part role in the squad, but he was involved. It was a similar situation for him last summer as Thomas Christiansen arrived, the issue for him was more the arrival of Samu Saiz, meaning Pablo Hernandez was pushed wide, a position where he would eventually flourish.
Dallas once again found himself in and out of the team and just one assist to his name through the season, however he had secured a new deal at the start of the season. Dallas was used as a left and right-back towards the end of the campaign, but that clearly impressed Marcelo Bielsa as he watched the season back, and Dallas has been a big part of the plans so far. Where does Bielsa see him playing? That’s simple, wherever he’s needed. So far left-back, left-wing and central midfield, in four games.
Marcelo Bielsa wants a small squad, one packed with quality and that means, quite simply, players will be playing in a variety of positions, enter Stuart Dallas. Dallas can play on either wing, at either full-back and has now been used as a central midfielder by Bielsa. He was brought on to keep the high press up on Sunday and one thing we know he will bring is hard work and ability to stick to strict tactics. This makes him so valuable to the “squad” under Marcelo Bielsa.
Stuart Dallas is a key part of the Northern Ireland success story in recent years, representing is country in France at the European Championships. This has cost him his place at Leeds at times, injuries and that long summer examples. He’s proud to play for the nation and it’s always good to see Dallas playing well on the international stage. He plays wing-back…another position.
