---
title: "Leeds: Paddy Kenny says Stuart Dallas is ill-suited to full-back role"
canonical: "https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/stuart-dallas-full-back-concerns-paddy-kenny-leeds/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "David Comerford"
section: "Leeds United News"
published: "2022-03-06T18:35:43Z"
modified: "2022-03-06T18:35:43Z"
---

# Leeds: Paddy Kenny says Stuart Dallas is ill-suited to full-back role

**Stuart Dallas struggles to ‘cope’ with the demands of playing as a full-back for Leeds United, former Whites goalkeeper Paddy Kenny has told [Football Insider](https://www.footballinsider247.com/leeds-united-dallas-pundit/).**

### The lowdown

The 30-year-old started as a right-back in Jesse Marsch’s first game in charge of the Whites against Leicester City on Saturday. It was the [21st time](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/stuart-dallas/leistungsdaten/spieler/158764/plus/0?saison=2021) that he has started on either side of the back four this season (11 on the right, 10 on the left).

Over the course of his career, Dallas has [played most of his minutes](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/stuart-dallas/leistungsdaten/spieler/158764/plus/0?saison=ges) as a left midfielder, but like his predecessor Marcelo Bielsa, it seems that Marsch views him as a versatile option.

### The latest

Kenny has urged Marsch to restore Dallas to a midfield role, warning that he is easy meat for ‘top wingers’ at full-back. The 43-year-old also suspects that the Northern Irishman is finding the experience ‘a bit embarrassing’.

\[freshpress-quiz id=”389016″\]

The [former Premier League goalkeeper](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/paddy-kenny/leistungsdatendetails/spieler/13524/wettbewerb/GB1) told [Football Insider](https://www.footballinsider247.com/leeds-united-dallas-pundit/): “He’s better in midfield rather than full-back. Yes, he’s got loads of energy and dynamism, but you can tell he’s spent most of his career as a winger at times.

“Look at his body positioning, he gets squared up by top wingers and too flat-footed, which is a bit embarrassing at times.

“His skills are best in midfield, where he is good on the ball and a runner who does the dirty week. He couldn’t cope always at full-back.”

### The verdict

Against Leicester, Harvey Barnes did find a lot of joy on their left flank, completing four out of his six dribbles, winning five of his seven ground duels and scoring the winning goal (via [SofaScore](https://www.sofascore.com/leeds-united-leicester-city/GsJ)).

However, it’s worth noting that Dallas was only playing at right-back because Luke Ayling had moved into the heart of defence following [an injury to Diego Llorente](https://www.premierinjuries.com/injury-table.php).

In an ideal world, Leeds would perhaps have two natural senior right-backs, but instead Dallas is the utility man. Until he gets a chance to reinforce the squad in the summer, Marsch can only work with what he’s got, even if Kenny has his misgivings about the 30-year-old in that role.

**In other news, [read this injury expert’s claim on Liam Cooper](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/leeds-united-news/team-news-liam-cooper-injury-premier-league/)**