After a three month break, the Championship season gets back underway this week, as Leeds United kick off a nine game run with a trip to the Cardiff City Stadium on Sunday.

Ahead of the clash with Neil Harris' side, full-back Stuart Dallas has been discussing his delight at being back at Thorp Arch and training with the rest of his teammates.

"It's good to be back in, obviously we've been off for a while and doing our individual training.

"It's been great to see all the lads, I think that's what you miss most. You go from being with all the boys every day to not being with them for a while, so to get back in and start preparing for Cardiff has been nice."



Dallas featured in Leeds United's last game back in March, when the Whites defeated Huddersfield 2-0 at Elland Road.

Despite a tough run in, the Northern Ireland international is looking forward to getting back to competitive football.

"I can't wait, it's been too long now. I think I speak for everyone when I say we're looking forward to it, especially when we've got something to play for, giving us extra motivation to get the job done.

"We know what's ahead of us, we know how hard it's going to be, but we've continued to work during this period, and we need to be one step ahead of the other teams when we return.

"You can train as much as you want, but there's nothing quite like playing games, and Sunday can't come quick enough."

Always backed by a strong support wherever they go, Leeds United, more than any team up and down the country, will have to get used to playing without fans cheering them on.

Asked by fans, as part of the latest #Ask episode, whether he thought behind-closed-doors would have a positive or adverse effect, Dallas believes that the job in hand will ensure that the side remains focused.

"I hope it has a positive effect, but obviously it's going to be weird. I don't think there's too many of us that have played in a stadium where there's no fans, so it is going to be strange at times.

"You do feed off the crowd, whether it be as a team or as individual players, but we've got a job to do, we know what's at stake and we know what we need to do. We'll be going all out to do as best we can. 

"I'm sure we'll hear everyone shouting but it's something that I've not really thought too much about, I'm just thinking about the games, and getting the job done."

Sitting top and seven points clear of Fulham in third place, Dallas isn't getting carried away by talk of promotion, but says achieving it "would probably top everything" in his career to date.

"I've been to the Euros with Northern Ireland, which I never thought I'd get the opportunity to do, so anything to top that would have to be special. Taking Leeds back to the Premier League would be absolutely incredible if we were able to do that.

"There's no point talking about it, we need to do it on the pitch and we'll cross that bridge when we come to it. But it is something that would live with me forever."