Phil Hay drops update on new Stuart Dallas contract at Leeds after return to training
Stuart Dallas is likely to realise he isn’t guaranteed to win a new contract at Leeds United with his existing deal expiring next year, according to Phil Hay.
The Athletic journalist reported on Friday (1 December) that Dallas, 32, isn’t going to be given a new contract “on a whim” after missing the last 18 months of action due to a fractured femur.
Liam Cooper and Luke Ayling are also out of contract at the end of the season with Daniel Farke leaving both of them out of his starting line-up for the win over Swansea on Wednesday (29 November).
What has happened to Stuart Dallas?
Dallas missed the entirety of last season, as well as the opening months of this season, due to fracturing a femur when playing for Leeds in their 4-0 loss to Manchester City on 30 April 2022.
There’s never really been a timeline put on the Northern Irishman’s return to action due to the severity and rareness of his injury in football.
However, in September, the former Brentford ace returned to training at Thorp Arch as he begins to step up his return to fitness at a steady pace.
Even though it’s December now, Dallas doesn’t seem too close to making Daniel Farke’s matchday squad.
Ultimately, Farke doesn’t really need the 32-year-old right now and rushing him back after such a lengthy lay-off with such a serious injury could be counter-productive.
Dallas’ contract might end at the end of this season but his career won’t. Unless Leeds do decide to offer him an extension for another 12 months, one of the best things they can do is to really be patient with his return to matches to ensure his playing career spans another few years at least.
In other Leeds United news, Ayling’s stance on being axed by Farke has emerged.