This article is part of Football League World's 'The Verdict' series, which provides personal opinions from the FLW writers regarding the latest breaking news, teams, players, managers, potential signings and more...

Leeds United along with West Brom continue to set the pace in the Championship this season, with the Whites top of the table. eleven points clear of third placed Fulham.

One player though who is struggling for game-time this season under Marcelo Bielsa is full-back Barry Douglas, who has only managed 10 appearances in all competitions, that has prompted former Whites striker Noel Whelan to suggest that the 30-year-old could be on his way out of Elland Road, as reported on Football Insider.

Whelan said: "It’s a massive come down for Barry Douglas, who we all expected to be a key man.

“Marcelo Bielsa wants his full-backs to play like wing-backs, and Douglas has to become that type of player to get in the side.

“I’m not sure he will be at Leeds next season. He has two players in front of him in his position, and he’s not going to get the nod if we’re in the Premier League. I can see him going.”

So would it surprise you to see Douglas exit Elland Road next summer?

We discuss........

Kris Smith

“It wouldn’t surprise me in the slightest to be honest, Douglas hasn’t had near the impact everyone expected him to have since arriving from Wolves.

“Douglas arrived from the title-winning Wolves side having registered the most assists in the league from left-wing-back but has not hit the heights of that season at all in 18 months at Elland Road.

“It has to be said that his role at Leeds is stricter than at Wolves as he operates under Bielsa in more of a four-man defence, rather than as a wing-back, but this has highlighted his weaknesses more.

“Since signing, he has slipped down the pecking order to be essentially third-choice behind Gjanni Alioksi and Stuart Dallas, highlighting his poor situation as neither of those players are natural left-backs.

“It would probably be in Douglas’ interests to move away from Elland Road in order to jumpstart his career and get regular playing time.”

Jordan Rushworth

“You can certainly understand why Douglas would be considering his options in the summer, given he has struggled to establish himself as the Whites’ first choice left-back and having only made nine appearances in the Championship so far this term he will be wanting more game time.

“When Douglas arrived at Elland Road from Wolves in the summer of 2018 he looked like an astute signing by Marcelo Bielsa, having just played a key role in helping Wolves secure promotion to the Premier League.

“However, he has never really managed to show the same level of form he did in the Championship for Wolves, and that has seen him often left out of the side with Ezgjan Alioski even being preferred to him at left-back at times by Bielsa.

“Douglas has undoubted ability but having not really managed to produce that consistently for Leeds, it could be the best option for both parties if he were to move on in the summer, especially if the Whites do go onto secure promotion to the top flight.”

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Chris Thorpe

"Given the fact that he is now 30 years of age, I think most people will agree that a move away from Elland Road would be the next logical step in his career, with Douglas largely out of favour under Marcelo Bielsa.

"There will be plenty of other clubs in the Championship who would be in favour of taking on a player who provides an abundance of skills as well as experience in this division.

"With Bielsa's starting eleven having been largely settled for much of the campaign, we could well see Douglas make an exit in the upcoming transfer window as he seeks more regular game time.

"This is certainly one to keep an eye on over the next few weeks as the defender's departure from the club could trigger a few new arrivals at Elland Road as they seek to cement their promotion charge."