Phil Hay says Daniel Farke rates Leeds ace as best in his position in the Championship

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Leeds United manager Daniel Farke rates Sam Byram as the best left-back in the Championship.

That is according to Phil Hay of the Athletic, who says in Farke’s mind, there is no one better in the division than Byram in his position when he is fit.

Farke was the man who spearheaded Leeds’ pursuit of Byram in the summer, initially inviting him to train at the club to help build his fitness and find him a club.

Byram has been ravaged by injury problems over the last few years but was able to prove himself at Thorp Arch by completing every training session, and coming through Leeds’ pre-season friendlies unscathed.

Since putting pen-to-paper on a one-year-deal, Byram has gone from strength-to-strength and is looking every bit as good as what Farke thought back in the summer.

Leeds boss Farke thinks Byram is Championship’s best left-back

Farke has continued to manager Byram’s fitness carefully this season, starting five of Leeds’ eight Championship fixtures.

Byram did pick up a minor injury in one of those starts at Ipswich Town, which kept him out of the 0-0 draw with Sheffield Wednesday before the international break.

The 30-year-old also told Farke last week before Leeds’ trip to Hull City that he would be unable to play 90 minutes three times in just six days.

Handing him a rest was intelligent thinking from both Farke and Byram, as he returned to the starting XI with aplomb against Watford, scoring Leeds’ second goal.

Providing he can stay fit, Leeds will not have a more reliable performer in their entire squad and signing him on a free transfer is looking smarter by the week.