The Leeds United winger was superb against Burnley.
After Leeds United and Burnley fought to the finish in the third round of the EFL Cup, there was no better man to take the final, potentially match-winning penalty than Stuart Dallas.
The Northern Ireland international had been superb from first minute to last and, when he stepped up for the decisive spot kick, there was no question he would score.
Dallas is perfect for matches like this, when Leeds need to grind out a result against tough opponents, and he did not disappoint, fighting throughout and instilling a never-say-die attitude in his teammates.
It is something Leeds will need as the season goes on, with fans believing this is finally the year when this sleeping giant rises from its prolonged slumber.
Dallas will be key to that, and even if he does not possess the flair of Samu Saiz, the unpredictability of Ezgjan Alioski or the goal-scoring nous of Pierre-Michel Lasogga, he is absolutely vital to Leeds boss Thomas Christiansen’s long-term plan.
His new contract highlights that, as does the fact that while he may not always start for Leeds, he almost invariably appears at some point in the match.
His is the calming influence, the lead-by-example mentality, and after Leeds’ latest win Christiansen may struggle to omit Dallas from his starting line-up as often as he has up to now.
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