Sam Byram has impressed since being switched to the wing.
Leeds United’s lack of wingers has seen one of their defenders re-invent himself in recent weeks.
Head coach Neil Redfearn has switched 21-year-old full-back Sam Byram to play on the wing, with positive results.
This has coincided with the team’s four game unbeaten run, and Byram has played a key role – scoring his first goal of the season in last week’s win over Huddersfield Town.
Finding the back of the net was no coincidence – figures show that Byram averages over one shot a game from the wing, as opposed to one every other game from full-back.
| Match | Key Passes per game | Dribbles won per game | Shots per game | Passing Accuracy | Successful Final Third Passes per game | Appearances | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sam Byram | On the wing | 1.25 | 0.75 | 1.25 | 79% | 13 | 4 |
| Sam Byram | At full-back | 0.8 | 0.35 | 0.5 | 80% | 9.4 | 20 |
Byram has been more creative, trickier on the ball, and sees more of it in the crucial final third.
While these are elements of his game which could be expected to improve with a switch of position, the fact he has made the change so sharply and effectively is a testament to his ability.
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