Stuart Dallas has been a fantastic servant to Leeds United. Signed from Brentford in 2015, the 'Cookstown Cafu' as he has come to be termed, has given the best years of his career to the Whites.
Dallas joined the club for a meagre fee totalling just over £1 million five years ago and has never looked back, earning promotion to the Premier League and working under the maverick Marcelo Bielsa for the past two years.
The 29-year-old is perhaps one of the best examples of how much of an impact Bielsa has had on the Leeds squad. Arriving from Brentford in 2015, Dallas was a reasonable player, but even the most ardent supporter of his would not have suggested he'd be a future 50-cap international and Premier League player.
To describe him as greater than the sum of his parts and undoubtedly one of Leeds' hardest workers would do Dallas a disservice, as he has clearly worked on his game throughout his time at Thorp Arch, to become the player he is today.
Understandably, he credits much of his progression to the Argentine manager. Speaking to the BBC at the beginning of this season, Dallas displayed his gratitude:
"No disrespect to the past managers because I have always loved working with whoever has been here, but in terms of my performances he [Bielsa] has really improved me.
"I just wish he had come here earlier than he did," Dallas stated.
He may be some way from reaching Jack Charlton and Billy Bremner's record appearance hauls of 773 and 772, but to have made it to 200 for such a prestigious and historic club will without question be a career highlight.
This season, Dallas has shown up impressively across the board. In terms of tackles made, ball recoveries and sprints in each Premier League game, the Northern Irishman ranks highly amongst his teammates. Dallas' willingness to be deployed in multiple positions has also drawn him plenty of credit during his time at Leeds.
Whether he has played at left-back, right-wing or central midfield, Dallas is something of a utility figure, especially under Bielsa. The respect between the pair is mutual too; last season Bielsa described Dallas as a 'complete player', suggesting he was a rare find for a manager.
"It’s not usual to find a player like that. He can play on both sides, even if he’s right-footed,
"He has the agility of a winger and is powerful as a defender. Technically, he’s a complete player. He has enough aerial play to play on every level of the pitch," the Argentine is quoted as saying by BelfastLive.
Dallas began his Leeds United career with a home game against Burnley under Uwe Rosler. He will reach 200 appearances in white under Marcelo Bielsa, against Arsenal, in the Premier League, competing a game where Leeds have a real chance of taking all three points.
If Dallas had a five-year plan in mind when he signed at Elland Road, it would probably have looked something like this.
