Leeds United ace Samuel Saiz has revealed that he has been played out of position at times this season and prefers to be deployed in the playmaker role.
The 26-year-old has become a huge fan favourite since his summer arrival from Spanish club Huesca and is a key man at Elland Road.
He has already made 16 appearances for the Whites across all competitions, scoring eight goals and supplying three assists in return.
Manager Thomas Christiansen has used the Spaniard in the free role behind the striker for large part of the campaign, but recently he has been shipped out to the wing.
Leeds have used Kalvin Phillips as a more traditional number 10 in recent weeks and Saiz has operated out wide as a result.
Saiz has explained that he benefits more from playing as a central attacking midfielder and believes he can impact the game more in that position.
“I’m not a big guy [smiles], I’m a very cheeky player, I’m not afraid, I always try to do what comes to mind , I’d say I’m very colourful, my game is quite vertical, I always look forward,” Saiz told Spanish publication Marca.
“On the left wing getting in, with freedom, but I prefer to play as a playmaker: you participate more in the game.”
OPINION
Leeds’ best player this season has definitely been creative maestro Saiz and moving forward Christiansen must build his team around him. The playmaker is clearly most effective when he links up behind the striker and it allows him to get on the ball more. He has settled extremely quickly since his summer arrival and appears to have all the qualities to play in the Premier League. Leeds will be fearful already of losing their new cult hero and will hope they can inspire them to promotion this campaign. However, the team are in a poor run of form of six defeats in the last seven games and playing Saiz in his preferred role after the international break could improve the side.