OPINION
Stuart Dallas could be Leeds United’s saviour in the final weeks of he season after it was confirmed on Tuesday that Ezgjan Alioski will miss the rest of the season with a knee injury.
Alioski was forced off in the first-half of the 2-0 defeat to Brentford on Monday with Dallas coming on to replace him at left-back to do an impressive job filling in outside of his normal position on the wing.
Barry Douglas, Leeds’ only natural senior left-back, is also sidelined for the rest of the campaign and youngster Tom Pearce was allowed to join Scunthorpe on loan in January and will not be able to be recalled before this weekend’s showdown with Aston Villa.
Dallas is more than likely going to be the man who fills in at left-back between now and the end of the season, but fortunately the Northern Ireland has a point to prove and may play out of his skin for the Yorkshire giants in a bid to help them earn promotion.
The former Brentford winger has made just eight starts in the Championship all season, but he could prove that Marcelo Bielsa was wrong to keep him on the sidelines for all that time when he should have been starting.
Dallas is not the most technically gifted of Leeds’ players but you have to admit that he has shown a great attitude since joining the club and you cannot talk down his high work-rate.
Alioski was often compared to a Duracell Bunny when he shone at left-back, and although he is not as fast as the North Macedonia international, Dallas can work just as hard down the flanks if he needs to.
The 28-year-old fringe player has been widely criticised by fans for his performances at times this season, but those supporters should know that he is going to give it his all to help Leeds win promotion back to the Premier League, whether it be by the play-offs or an unlikely spot in the automatics.