Stuart Dallas risks being exposed in a major way against Bristol City if the Leeds United boss plays him at right-back.
New Leeds United manager Paul Heckingbottom raised eyebrows when he played Stuart Dallas at right-back in place of the suspended Gaetano Berardi in Saturday’s 2-1 defeat at Sheffield United.
The decision, however, didn’t backfire and the left winger barely put a foot wrong against the Blades.
Berardi will miss out again when Bristol City visit Elland Road on Sunday and, as a result, Heckingbottom might be tempted to punt for Dallas again, but it could be a massive mistake.
Joe Bryan and Jamie Paterson, the Robins’ left-back and left wing, prove a handful for even experienced right-backs every week, so a makeshift defender like Dallas could have an absolute nightmare.
The duo have delivered 242 crosses into the oppostition box between them this season. Bryan, one of the Championship’s most promising players, is responsible for 132 of those and no defender in the division has crossed the ball more than him this season.
That isn’t to say that he and Paterson will terrorise Dallas, but statistically there is a good chance that the Northern Irish attacker will struggle and perhaps Heckingbottom would be wise to go with Vurnon Anita, who played at right-back for Newcastle last season.
Dallas has a brilliant attitude and is one of those players who you would back to give 100% in any position, but application and heart won’t compensate for a huge lack of experience in a certain role and surely Heckingbottom only has himself to blame if the 26-year-old – a £1.3 million signing in 2015 – gets torn to shreds.
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