Stuart Dallas: Leeds United’s Swiss Army Knife

Stuart Dallas is seemingly a player that can and has done it all at times for Leeds United, with regular changes of position over his five and a half seasons at the club, but to simply describe him as a utility man would be a disservice to both his ability and how well he has regularly adapted his game to become one of the most important pieces in Marcelo Bielsa’s squad. Dallas has consistently proven he is equipped to thrive across several positions whenever needed and be a real asset for the team, both defensively and in attack.

Dallas is one of only 3 players this season to have started all 21 Premier League games for Leeds, and of the whole squad he has played more minutes than anyone else to date. A remarkable feat for a player that was largely on the periphery of the Leeds side in Bielsa’s first season at Elland Road, and one that highlights his own personal rise and development over the past 2–3 years, now as a virtual ever-present in the top flight.

While Dallas has recently performed at a high level in both Midfield and at Full-Back for Leeds during the 2020–21 season, it has not always been a seamless transition for him, as you may expect when adjusting to new positions. During Bielsa’s first season, Dallas did not appear an important figure in the manager’s plans for large periods, coming on as a substitute or filling in for…