Leeds United winger Stuart Dallas has suggested that he is happy with his bit-part role under Garry Monk at the Championship club.
Any player who has started less than half of his side’s league games has a right to consider his future. And you’d expect that Stuart Dallas, who was included in the starting XI on just 20 occasions since Garry Monk arrived at Elland Road, would be weighing up his options this summer.
However, it appears that Dallas is content with his reduced role at the Yorkshire giants – despite being a regular starter in his debut season at the club after arriving from Brentford in 2015.
“I got back in and I’d been doing all right – I could have done better,” the Northern Irish international told the Yorkshire Evening Post. “I’ve been a bit-part player but I’ve still enjoyed it.”
With fellow wingers Hadi Sacko, Mo Barrow and Alfonso Pedraza all returning to their parent clubs after arriving at Leeds on loan, Dallas may take solace in hoping that he will be handed further opportunities next season.
However, the fact that Monk felt the need to bring in three extra widemen on short-term deals suggests that he doesn’t exactly see Dallas as a crucial member of his squad.
Bit-part player
The aforementioned trio are all renowned for their rapid pace, if not a reliable end product. Dallas, however, is a different player entirely. In many ways, he’s an attacker picked for his defensive duties, his hard-work and tracking back appealing to pragmatic former boss Steve Evans.
Therefore, it appears from an outside perspective that Dallas should not hold much hope for a bright future at Elland Road – as long as Garry Monk is at the helm anyway.
If he wants more game-time next season, the 26-year-old could benefit from a chance of scenery. Although, as it stands, it appears that he can cope with life on the bench.
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