Blackett happy to be versatile
Leeds' Lee Blackett says he is happy to be versatile and play on either the wing or in the centre this season.
Leeds do not have the biggest playing squad in the Premiership this season. This often means that players are asked to carry out more than one role over the course of many games.
Blackett said: "I've mainly played at centre due to us being short of numbers due to injuries. I hadn't played centre for nearly two years and I enjoyed it so much, but I expect to stay as a winger this year. I predominately still see myself, and coaching wise too, as a winger."
Blackett has managed to adapt his game so that he can play out wide and be just as effective when he is moved into the middle of the team. However, there are worries that his game could be damaged if he has to continuously change the way he plays.
Blackett has a great deal of quality and possesses many skills that make the transition between the two roles very easy. He says he would play in any position that the club asked him to but promises it will not be a problem.
Quality and skill
The biggest plus to both player and club is that Blackett was playing these same two roles at various points last season. He is fast and agile enough to play out wide while his strength allows him to compete against bigger players in the middle of the pitch.
He has experience and his versatility is there for all to see. Not many players can start a game in one position and end the game playing somewhere different in the team.
The fact he can play two roles will mean he is effectively viewed as two players by the club. It will make the club's job easier because they will not be forced into looking for another player to come in and provide depth in an area of the squad.
Obvious danger
The obvious danger of asking a player to play out of position is that the player will not be as effective as when he is playing in his main role. There is also the threat that Leeds could risk his effectiveness in both positions.
This is because Blackett may never have a main position or a main set of instructions to get used to. His role could change so many times over the course of the season that it will be impossible for him to settle and play a certain way.
He added: "It is going to be very tough but I am fully confident I can keep my place. I feel I can do jobs other wingers can't do and feel I do a lot of the unseen work. Michael Stephenson has represented England and if you do that you have to be of good quality and he's come here and done well so far."
Betting advice
As a team Leeds will probably be somewhere in the region of mid-table by the end of the season. They don't have the best squad but they work hard off of the field and enjoy a lot of support, which can often win a few more points over the course of a season.
Blackett will be most productive when he plays out wide because this is his main position. He could score a lot of points for the club and will be a candidate to score in any game if he starts on the wing. The best option is to wait until a game has started or until you know the team because then you will be able to see where he plays from.
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