Andy Hughes claims Leeds United defender Barry Douglas needs ‘help’ to improve form

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After winning the Championship title with Wolverhampton Wanderers last season, Barry Douglas will be hoping for the same success with Leeds United this term.

Huddersfield coach Andy Hughes is adamant that Leeds United defender Barry Douglas is a ‘top, top player’ but has claimed that he just needs ‘help’ as he goes through a tough time.

The 29-year-old, who won promotion with Nuno Espirito Santo’s free-flowing Wolves last season, made the switch to Elland Road last summer.

At the start of the campaign, left-back Douglas was a regular member of Marcelo Bielsa’s side, but injuries and a lack of form has seen him drop to the bench.

Speaking to Talking Shutt’s official YouTube account, Hughes, who played at Elland Road during the early part of his playing career, shared his thoughts on the out-of-form Douglas.

“I read a bit about the Barry Douglas situation because at Wolves Player of the Year or was he in Team of the Year?,” Hughes told LS11. “He’s just going through one of them. You have just got to help him, that is all, he just needs a little bit of help.

“He’s still a top, top player. Obviously, it’s a little bit of a different system. It might take a bit of time – I think with the Douglas thing, he’s just out of the team because the team are winning. The team are doing great without him.”

For Wolves last season, whilst playing in a left-sided wing-back role, Douglas was a standout star. He was a constant threat on the flank, supplying 14 assists and scoring five goals for his team [transfermarkt].

Whilst the 29-year-old looked impressive early on in the season, he hasn’t been able to transcend that form on a more consistent basis for the Whites.

But with Leeds sitting third in the Championship table, Douglas will be hoping to provide his team with that extra push they need to earn promotion.

On Saturday, Bielsa’s side will host relegation-threatened Millwall on home soil with a win and other results going their way potentially seeing them move into the automatic places.