It's strange to think that up until the latter stages of Marcelo Bielsa's first season at Leeds United, Stuart Dallas was a bit-part player in Leeds' push for promotion. A fractured foot kept him to only just over 1000 minutes in the Championship but he finished the season as the standout player in the play-off semi final loss to Derby County, where he scored twice in the second leg despite Leeds losing.
Since that game, the Ulsterman hasn't looked back and has been almost ever-present in league fixtures. In fact, he has started every single game for almost three seasons. His only absence came at Blackburn late in the 19/20 season as Leeds closed in on automatic promotion.
During that run, the man who turns 31 on Tuesday has played in almost every outfield position at one point or another as Bielsa and now Jesse Marsch found in Dallas the most reliable of performers. During Leeds' comeback season in the Premier League, the 'Cookstown Cafu' cleaned up at the end of season awards, winning both Player of the Season, Players Player of the Season and Goal of the Season. As well as fulfilling whatever tactical role Bielsa asked him to, he had weighed in with eight goals, including a match-winning brace at Manchester City.
Whilst it's fair to say that Dallas hasn't hit the same heights this season, Adam Forshaw recently revealed that the Northern Irishman often plays whilst injured. The midfielder told the Athletic:
"Stu Dallas won’t mind me saying that he plays through injury most weeks. It’s just how it is."
In fact, this season it seemed certain that he would be set for a spell on the sidelines following Leeds' 3-0 loss away to Everton. Dallas had been forced off in the first-half after picking up an injury in a challenge with Alex Iwobi and although he tried to play on, was clearly in a lot of pain and could not continue. However, by the time the next game came around, he was in the starting XI once again.
Throughout this incredible run in the team, Dallas has shown himself to be one of the true leaders at Elland Road. Whilst this season hasn't been as good in terms of on-field performances, he has shown the way in terms of bringing his personality and desire on the pitch. Under Bielsa and now Marsch, those are vital attributes as Leeds rely on intensity to give them an edge. He also came up with a big moment when it was needed as he scored from the edge of the area against Burnley to put the Whites back in the lead after a Maxwel Cornet equaliser in January.
With Dallas now moving well past his peak years, perhaps this summer will be the time when Victor Orta will need to bring in some new players which might see the utility man play few minutes next season. It's clear that the quality of the squad does need raising if Leeds are to avoid a relegation battle in 22/23. However, given Dallas' importance to the group, one would not expect to see him cast aside any time soon. Marsch will surely love to have a player around the squad that he can rely upon, whatever role is asked of him.
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