Leeds United’s Stuart Dallas has started off the season in a strong fashion.
Sky Sports pundit Danny Higginbotham has lauded Leeds United’s Stuart Dallas as a ‘managers dream’ as he is set for a number of crucial international matches with Northern Ireland.
Whilst Dallas in a natural winger, he has been playing in various positions for Leeds under Marcelo Bielsa, as he has seriously impressed at right-back this term.
Given his performances at right-back, it means that Dallas could potentially be battling it out with rising Premier League star and Norwich defender Jamal Lewis for that spot for Northern Ireland.
Speaking to Match Centre on Sky Sports News (05/09/2019 at 11:50 am), Higginbotham shared his thoughts on Dallas’s qualities, as he and Lewis are hoping to impress for their country.
“You have got [Jamall] Lewis who is doing unbelievably well at Norwich,” Higginbotham told Sky Sports News. “You have got Dallas as well. Who is arguably one of Leeds United’s best player so far? Smith I think is ruled out through injury, so it gives Dallas a chance to start at fullback [for Northern Ireland].
“He [Dallas] is a managers dream because the number of positions I have seen him play for Leeds. I have seen him play left-back, at right-back and I have seen him play higher up the pitch. He’s got a great delivery into the box. But he’s such a clever player. He finds space and more often than not the ball that he puts into the box is fantastic.
“It is vital for Northern Ireland that they do have the width going forward because you don’t want the pitch to be too narrow.”
Many Leeds fans won’t argue that Dallas has been a bit of an unsung hero for the club this season and he will be hoping to take that form onto the international stage.
On Thursday evening, NI will host Luxembourg in a friendly encounter before they host Germany in a crucial Euro qualifier on Monday night.
It will be a big test for Dallas, who has been a pivotal part of Michael O’Neil’s success with Northern Ireland in recent years.
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