Barry Douglas loan departure shows Marcelo Bielsa's faith in Stuart Dallas

Barry Douglas has joined Blackburn Rovers from Leeds United on a season-long loan.
LOAN: Barry Douglas takes a penalty in his last Leeds United appearance, the League Cup tie against Hull City which went to a shoot-outLOAN: Barry Douglas takes a penalty in his last Leeds United appearance, the League Cup tie against Hull City which went to a shoot-out
LOAN: Barry Douglas takes a penalty in his last Leeds United appearance, the League Cup tie against Hull City which went to a shoot-out

It leaves the newly-promoted side without a specialist senior left-back although the versatile Stuart Dallas, who was usually preferred there last season, was in many people's eyes the club's player of their promotion-winning season.

Douglas, a 31-year-old Scotland international joined from Wolverhampton Wanderers in the summer of 2018 and despite providing an assist for Liam Cooper on his debut, a 3-1 win over Stoke City, has found regular football hard to come by after being hampered by injury.

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He famously played on with a season-ending ligament injury against Millwall in March 2019 because coach Marcelo Bielsa had used all three substitutes.

In an open letter to the player, Leeds's sporting director Victor Orta wrote: “You are clearly a top player and anyone who understands the game can see your quality. Unfortunately things have just not fallen for you in the way they should have done during your time at Leeds United, which can happen in football.”

Orta also praised the impact the Scot had on the dressing-room culture at Elland Road and Thorp Arch, adding: “I have seen first-hand how you have taken the younger players in the squad under your wing and given them important advice and it is clear to everybody that you are very popular amongst the senior players at the club.”

Douglas has made 30 starts in all competitions for the Whites, the most recent being in September's League Cup game against Hull City, which the Tigers won on penalties. Douglas took and scored a spot kick in the shoot-out.

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Dallas is a midfielder by trade, but has shown an ability and intelligence to adapt to a range of positions. Bielsa prizes versatility as he likes to work with a tight squad, and cover at left-back will be provided by winger Ezgjan Alioski.

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