Ezgjan Alioski has offered an insight into why it has been easy for him to adapt to a new position under Marcelo Bielsa at Leeds United, with the Macedonian now seen as a full-back rather than a winger.

Leeds moved to sign Alioski in the summer of 2017, with Thomas Christiansen and Paul Heckingbottom both opting to use him off the left and right of the attack during his first year at Elland Road.

After seven goals and five assists, Bielsa started with Alioski on the left of his midfield last season, but by the time the run-in came, the 27-year-old had dropped to left-back and was ahead of Barry Douglas in the pecking order.

And, that’s where he’s started the current season, featuring as a left wing-back more often than not.

Recently, the Macedonian international has been discussing that adaptation.

“He’s (Bielsa) put me to left-back but it’s a position I enjoy because I can get up and down,” said Alioski, as quoted by the Yorkshire Evening Post.

“I have a lot of power to get forward, to get up and down. It’s not a new position for me because I sometimes play it for the national team.

"It wasn’t difficult for me to switch from left wing to left-back because with the system that we play and the style that Marcelo Bielsa wants.

"It’s nice to play at left-back because you can attack, defend and do the game you want. You have a lot of space.”

Moving on, Alioski revealed that his idols were in-fact left-backs Marcelo and Roberto Carlos, who both flexed their muscles as the world’s best in their position.

QUIZ: Can you remember the outcome of Leeds United’s last 16 Boxing Day matches?

“My idols were always Marcelo and Roberto Carlos who are left-backs,” Alioski continued. “When Marcelo plays you don’t need to watch the other players because he can teach you so many things about playing left-back.

“I think Marcelo can easily play for Real Madrid because they play such an offensive game. I don’t know how he would play in another team but I like his offensive play as left-back, because that’s the modern approach.

“Marcelo (Bielsa) likes us to defend but what is good is that left-backs now are expected to attack a lot.”

Alioski last started for Leeds in their 2-0 win over Huddersfield Town, with the left-back scoring a thunderous volley.

He dropped back down to the bench for the win over Hull City and draw with Cardiff City, as Stuart Dallas was preferred on the left of defence.

However, he scored his fourth goal of the season in the win over Hull after stepping off the bench, whilst he also finished the game with Cardiff on Saturday.

The Verdict

Alioski is the ideal man to fill the role Bielsa wants his full-backs to play; the Macedonian has bags of energy to get up and down, whilst he’s got goals in him, which is always a good trait.

As a winger, he was inconsistent, but he’s improved so much under Bielsa, with his decision making a lot better and his discipline in a new position.

Many will hope to see him return to the starting line-up when Leeds are next in action.

Thoughts? Let us know!