By Craig Scott

31st Oct, 2021 | 5:10pm

Alan Hutton baffled by Daniel James positioning in first half of Leeds United clash v Norwich

Alan Hutton cannot understand why Leeds United ace Daniel James was played effectively in a left-back role in the first half against Norwich.

James, 23, was signed for a club-record deal worth £30million in the summer but the former Manchester United attacker has not yet lived up to that value.

The Wales international assisted Raphinha’s goal in the second half of the 2-1 win at Carrow Road but Hutton couldn’t get his head around James being forced back into a full-back role.

“When Leeds get dragged out of spaces, there are opportunities to play behind them,” Hutton said, as quoted on BBC Sport’s website.

“You want Dan James playing up the pitch where he can affect the game, not playing at left back!”

Awful first half

Leeds turned things around after the break and really showed Norwich to be as bad as everyone says they are.

However, the first 45 minutes were woeful and Norwich were marginally the better side.

We looked very poor in the midfield with Norwich seeming as though they had more players on the pitch than we did.

When they were in possession and pushed forward, the ball was moved around at pace and it forced players like James to drop back so deep.

It ended up nullifying James’ actual strength – his pace.

James is someone who can get the ball up and down the pitch in the blink of an eye but he couldn’t do that at Carrow Road because he was having to play effectively as a left-back in the first half.

Stuart Dallas played a lot better after the break and that may have helped James play higher up the pitch but Norwich also got worse as the game went on.

In other Leeds United news, a pundit wants to see Bielsa sacked.