Is Barry Douglas the only Leeds player not reaching his full potential?

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Premier League newcomers Wolverhampton Wanderers surprisingly let left-back Barry Douglas join Championship hopefuls Leeds United in the summer.

Leeds United’s 3-0 win against a struggling Preston North End side on Tuesday night might not have raised too many eyebrows. After all, the Whites started the game at the top of the Championship table while Alex Neil’s visitors had not claimed three points since the opening day.

That said the manner of the result, and the performance, was hugely important. Leeds cruised to a hugely impressive victory without strikers Kemar Roofe and Patrick Bamford, let alone talisman Pablo Hernandez, with Jack Harrison and two-goal Tyler Roberts stepping up in style.

While so many of Leeds’ players have taken their game to a new level under Marcelo Bielsa, there is one member of the Whites’ squad who is yet to find his best form and that continued against Preston.

Barry Douglas was by no means poor at Elland Road in midweek. But you get the feeling that he could offer so much more.

The Scottish left-back looked like an outstanding signing when he arrived from Wolves for £5 million after producing a league-best 14 assists in 2017/18. But, while Douglas did set up Liam Cooper’s goal against Preston from a corner, his deliveries from open play are not quite as laser-guided as they were at Wolves last season.

Douglas has been caught out defensively on occasion, too, switching off for Jed Wallace’s opening goal during the 1-1 draw with Millwall.

If Leeds are impressive now, just imagine how good they will be when Douglas, arguably the best full-back in the Championship on paper, finds his best form.