Former Leeds United favourite Noel Whelan admits he is delighted that Whites midfielder Stuart Dallas has signed a new deal at the club.
The Lowdown: Dallas priceless for Leeds
Leeds had a number of star performers in the Premier League last season, from Kalvin Phillips to Patrick Bamford, but it was Dallas who scooped both the Players’ Player of the Year and Player of the Year awards.
The Northern Irishman was magnificent for Marcelo Bielsa’s side, scoring eight goals from midfield, including a last-gasp winner away to champions Manchester City.
Dallas put pen to paper on a new three-year deal last week, acting as a huge boost for Leeds moving forward, keeping him at Elland Road until 2024.
The Latest: Whelan hails new deal
Speaking to Football Insider, Whelan couldn’t hide his delight at the news, heaping praise on the 30-year-old in the process:
“Absolutely brilliant news. I cannot think of a player that deserves it more than him, to be quite honest with you.
“The last couple of seasons he has been my player of the season. Nobody can say that he does not deserve this three-year deal.
“He has been the ultimate professional. He has never let the team down. I expect that he got a sizeable pay rise which he fully deserves. His performances have been so consistent.”
The Verdict: Most important player?
There is an argument to say that Dallas is Leeds’ most important player currently, even though he may not always stand out as much as others.
So much of the work he does can go unnoticed, particularly for fans of other clubs who don’t watch him every week, but his versatility and team ethic have played a huge role in Leeds’ success.
Only Bamford scored more goals than Dallas in the league last season, while only five players bettered his average of 1.9 tackles per game, highlighting his quality on and off the ball.
In other news, one pundit admits he would love to see a current Premier League player at Leeds next season. Find out who it is here.
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