
Sam Byram struggled to get into the starting eleven at Leeds United in the first few months of the season. However, he has turned indispensable for Daniel Farke since the end of October. The fact that the defender was straight into the starting eleven against Middlesbrough after recovering from an injury showed his importance in the Leeds squad.
There were some question marks when Leeds decided to re-sign Byram on a free transfer last summer, seven years after he left the club for West Ham in 2016.
However, Byram wasted little time in establishing himself in the Leeds set-up in his first season back at Elland Road and despite a few injury issues, he featured 33 times for them in the Championship.
Farke chose other options over the experienced defender at the start of the 2024/25 season. However, Byram has fought back and has again cemented his place in the starting eleven.
He has started six of the last nine games, missed two games due to an injury, and is one of the most important players in Farke’s squad.
The versatility of Sam Byram makes him such a big player for Leeds United
A right-back by trade, Byram played most of last season at left-back and was the first choice for that position despite the presence of Junior Firpo in the squad.
He has again featured in both full-back positions this season and featured in the right-back slot in Leeds’ 3-1 win over Middlesbrough earlier this week.
Byram is an experienced customer who seamlessly slotted straight back into the team despite just returning to training following a minor injury layoff.
His consistency and experience make him such a valuable asset for Farke who has often used him in various positions to plug holes in the team whenever required.
He is the kind of seven-out-of-ten player any team aspiring for promotion need and even WhoScored numbers back up the claims on his rating when Byram starts games.
The 31-year-old adds strong defensive attributes in the full-back positions and rarely loses the ball when in possession. He is the kind of dependable player managers like to hang their hats on.
Jayden Bogle is back in training after recovering from a minor injury and Farke has decisions to make for their trip to Preston on Saturday.
However, with Junior Firpo out with a hamstring injury, it would not surprise anyone if the Leeds boss decides to slot Byram in one of the full-back positions at Deepdale.
The 31-year-old’s value at Elland Road is not quantifiable
Despite spending seven years away from Elland Road, Byram remains a Leeds boy through and through. A product of the academy, the defender is steeped in Leeds tradition and understands the importance of being a Whites player.
His experience at the top level coupled with his attitude to help the team in whichever position the manager needs him to, serves as an example for the rest of the squad.
Getting back to the Premier League is Leeds’ ultimate goal and they need leaders inside the dressing room to pull the squad in the right direction. Byram is one of those players who is a huge voice inside the squad and is a leader of men.
Ethan Ampadu is back in the squad following recovering from an injury and can be used as a left-back option but Byram will continue to remain an important player in the squad for the rest of the season.
Farke will need a player of his quality and attitude to set the examples for the rest of the Leeds squad as they push to get promoted to the top flight in the latter half of the campaign.
