Chris Brunt has claimed that Leeds United’s Stuart Dallas has been a ‘top performer’ for Northern Ireland for around five years now, as he told Sky Sports (09/10/21 at 7:50 pm).
The former West Brom player claimed that Dallas has been a ‘top, top player’ ever since he broke through at Brentford, which has since led him to the Premier League road with Leeds.
It was a game to forget for Dallas yesterday because his Northern Ireland side suffered a crushing 2-0 World Cup qualifying defeat to Switzerland.
Northern Ireland are now six points adrift of second place and it’s looking unlikely they will be getting their plane tickets to Qatar next year.
But his former national teammate, Brunt was full of praise for the Leeds 30-year-old and how he is ‘great for a manager’ to have on board.
“Stuey has been a top, top player since he broke through at Brentford,” said Brunt. “He has moved on to Leeds and he has proved himself and that he can play on the highest level in the Premier League.
“He has been one of our top performers for the last four or five years internationally, wherever he is asked to play as well.
“It’s great for a manager to have somebody like that. He can drop into two or three different positions when they are struggling.”
Dallas is one of those players who epitomises the job Marcelo Bielsa has done at the club.
Before Bielsa walked through the doors at Elland Road, Dallas was a wide player still trying to find his feet in Yorkshire.
But now he can play across the backline, out wide and in the middle of the park.
During Leeds’ promotion and their top-ten finish last term, alongside the likes of Kalvin Phillips, he has been one of the best players under Bielsa.
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