Leeds’ left-back situation has been an interesting one to monitor this term.
Barry Douglas started the campaign on the left-hand side of the defence before he was quickly usurped by Gjanni Alioski after being injured.
Leif Davis has also had game time while Stuart Dallas remains a viable option too.
However, the competition for a role at left full-back has taken a fresh twist with two of those men very much in form.
On the chalkboard
Dallas and Alioski both played in central midfield against Huddersfield a few weeks ago as Marcelo Bielsa opted for a three-man defence.
His formation of playing three at the back, as well as in midfield is a bizarre one but it’s worked for the Whites. They sit second in the Championship and are ten points clear of Preston in third.
However, because of injuries, namely to Liam Cooper, Bielsa reverted to a back four in their 3-3 draw with Cardiff last weekend.
Alioski was named among the substitutes despite scoring two in two games prior to that, while Dallas was selected at left-back.
The Northern Irishman was in decent form, as he has been for most of the season, and claimed an assist. In the process, the versatile performer won two tackles and two aerial duels too.
It would be difficult to drop him from a role that he’s impressed so much in. Last term, the 28-year-old scored twice from that position against Derby in the playoffs.
But this is where one of Bielsa’s biggest dilemmas this campaign has arrived. Dallas is surely an automatic pick in the side but Alioski is in standout form as well.
He replaced Jack Harrison at left-wing but after scoring for Leeds’ U23s on Monday evening, he showed that at the moment he’s in outstanding goalscoring touch.
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Harrison has also proved himself to be one of Leeds’ most consistent players, contributing to nine goals in 2019/20 so it would feel harsh to drop him.
This is a pretty large conundrum for Bielsa, especially after the way Leeds collapsed last weekend. If they want to gain promotion then he’ll have to strike the right balance. For a manager with so much experience, you’d back him to find a remedy.
In other Leeds news, one player is outshining Alfie McCalmont at youth level…