Leeds United’s two deadline day signings will be looking to rival Stuart Dallas for a place on the wing.
Stuart Dallas would have gone into Leeds’ game with Blackburn probably knowing that he was under pressure for his place following the arrivals of two new wingers at the end of the January transfer window. And while he insisted to BBC Radio Leeds that the additional competition is a good thing, he would have surely known that he sent the perfect message to Garry Monk with his contribution at Ewood Park.
Poll: What was the best signing made by a Championship club during the January transfer window?
Leeds bolstered their wide options at the end of the window with the loan acquisitions of Alfonso Pedraza and Modou Barrow, leaving the likes of Dallas and Hadi Sacko to wonder what roles they would play in the coming months.
Stuart Dallas celebrates scoring the first goal for Leeds United
But with neither new signing eligible to feature against Blackburn on Tuesday night, the Northern Irishman was given the chance to prove a point to Monk, and he most definitely did that with the first goal in what became a 2-1 win for Leeds.
And after the game, he spoke about his two new teammates.
“I’ve just got to keep concentrating on my own game and working hard,” he told BBC Radio Leeds.
“Tonight will give me a bit more confidence, and as I said before, it’s not about me, it’s about the team and they’re coming in to improve the team and if it gets us to where we want to be, that’s the best thing for us.
“We’re a good group of lads here, we’ll welcome them in, they’ll have no problem settling in and hopefully we can push on now.”
Leeds fans react on Twitter as Pontus Jansson heads home winner in Blackburn victory
One of Dallas’ biggest problems this season has perhaps been his consistency, so his display and goal against Blackburn would have surely ensured that kept himself right in Monk’s thoughts for the massive clash with Huddersfield this weekend.
And the performance could have perhaps earned him another chance to prove that Barrow and Pedraza’s path to the first-team is not without its obstacles.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
