Leeds United injury verdict emerges on Stuart Dallas ahead of pre-season
Stuart Dallas has been described as a “surviving hero” of Leeds United and their last Championship season, as reported by Leeds Live.
Whilst the last few weeks have provided plenty of headlines in regard to the takeover, the search for a new head coach and the upheaval of relegation from the Premier League, Dallas is another major talking point ahead of the new campaign.
The Northern Ireland international missed the entirety of last season due to the serious femur fracture, sustained against Manchester City in May 2022 but now, his return to the first-team squad could be the biggest potential suffer development as he works hard toward that goal.
The Leeds Live report details some of the false hope that arose last season. He was doing light training as far back as August but his absence continued, as did the loss, for his club and country.
“One of the most special narratives of the summer could yet involve one of the surviving heroes of the last Championship campaign,” it said.
“Stuart Dallas, now 420 days on from his horrific leg break, may finally be counting down to a full return.”
“It has been a long road of false starts and premature target dates, but after missing the entirety of last term, pre-season must be a real aim for the 32-year-old.”
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Whoever the new head coach of Leeds will be, he will surely call upon the ability, leadership and experience of the former Brentford man.
His return offers a sense of optimism, as well as continuity from seasons past. He was a key player in the side that flourished and achieved promotion, then Premier League acclaim under Marcelo Bielsa, until things went sour for El Loco.
He knows the club, is popular with the supporters and despite his advancing years, he has still plenty to offer on the pitch, especially at Championship level.
The old ‘new signing’ cliche is trotted out when a player returns from a long-term injury but in the case of Dallas, it is true, effectively.
He will receive a great cheer when he makes his return at Elland Road, hopefully in the early stages of the upcoming Championship campaign as Leeds strive to make an instant return to the Premier League.
In other Leeds United news, an unexpected third name has been added to the conversation according to a BBC journalist.