Barry Douglas’ arrival at Leeds United in the summer was seen as one of the transfer window’s major coups, with the Whites getting their hands on a left-back that had just won the title with Wolverhampton Wanderers.  

Leeds did limited business under Marcelo Bielsa in the summer, but Douglas arrived with good pedigree and was expected to solve the club’s issues at left-back, which had haunted them for some time.

And, the 29-year-old started well, fitting seamlessly into Leeds’ system and helping them establish themselves in the race for promotion.

However, Douglas’ form hasn’t been at a high standard since October, with injuries playing their part. The player has

/BsGh7uPBobh/">admitted on social media he’s not been at his best at times, but he will recognise he has a major role to play from here at Elland Road.

The Championship’s promotion race is a lot tighter than it was 12 months ago, with Leeds joined by Norwich, Sheffield United and West Brom in a race for automatic promotion, whilst it is hard to rule Middlesbrough out just yet.

What will be levelled at Leeds is their lack of experience at this time of the season, with very few of Bielsa’s squad finding themselves in such a lofty position in the past.

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This isn’t unfamiliar territory for Douglas and he will be in the ear of his teammates during the next 14 games as he looks to help Leeds over the line in the race for promotion, just as he did with Wolves 12 months ago.

Last year, Douglas’ stats read five goals and 14 assists – a figure he’s unlikely to match at Leeds this season. However, he can put a bad couple of months behind him by stepping up for Bielsa during the run-in.

If Douglas can achieve what he achieved last season in a Leeds shirt, his transfer will look the shrewd bit of business it did back in the summer.