Former England defender Danny Mills has encouraged Leeds United's Barry Douglas to make the left-back position his own this season.

After a year hampered with injuries, Douglas failed to capitalise on a fast start to his Leeds career. The Scottish international picked up knee ligament damage which ruled him out for the majority of the second half of the season.

Having made just 26 appearances in all competitions last season, Douglas will be hoping to build on what is already a bright start. He's started both of Leeds' opening Championship games with Ezgjan Alioski dropping to the bench.

Alioski stepped in excellently last season, and despite naturally being a winger throughout his career, he was a comfortable left-back during the Whites' promotion push.

Speaking to Football Insider, Mills said: “It’s a strange situation, Barry Douglas is the out-and-out left-back. I’d like to see him really start to take that number three shirt and say: ‘This is mine, I’m not prepared to let it go.’

“We’ve seen a little bit at Leeds before he got injured but before that, at Wolves, that he can be an exceptionally good left-back.”

Leeds take on Wigan at the DW Stadium on Saturday afternoon hoping to keep their unbeaten record intact.

The Verdict

Douglas is an exceptional player for this division and he has shown his capabilities at left-back through the past couple of seasons.

However, defensively he can very vulnerable. There was a reason Wolves sold him despite him being a key part of the side that won promotion to the Premier League.

Going forward, he's great and has the ability to pick out anyone when he has space to cross the ball. It will help him that there is a very capable replacement in Alioski waiting in the wings, that will push him to his limit.

Leeds will need Douglas fit and raring to go for the whole season if they're to make that push for the Premier League once more.