Inside Elland Road: Are Leeds Utd physically able to compete in the Premier League?
Daniel Farke has declared a Leeds United attacker as ready to start after recent bench outings.
Whites star Dan James is now back in the Leeds United starting mix but with boss Daniel Farke considering several factors in deciding who lines up out wide.
Wales international star James was thought to be facing four to six weeks out after rolling his ankle in training at the end of September but the winger returned quicker than expected and made the bench at Burnley just two weeks later.
James bagged 23 minutes as a second-half substitute against the Clarets but the winger is still awaiting his first start since returning following outings from the bench in the games against West Ham United and Brighton.
James was given just three minutes against the Irons and 29 against the Seagulls but Farke says the winger is now fit enough to start but always considering which type of his wingers are best for each individual test.
Noah Okafor and Brenden Aaronson have started six of United’s last seven games out wide, Jack Harrison coming into the team at injured Okafor’s expense in defeat at Burnley.
James, says Farke, fits into several winger types but with the competition for places welcomed by United’s head coach.
“Fits to several of our winger types”
Asked how close he was to being confident of starting James in terms of his fitness, Farke said: “Yes, in terms of his fitness, I would say he is also back and able to start a game.
"We have lots of competition because we also need in the offense players who can deliver end products and players who can chip in.
"But also to make sure that we find always a good balance between creators and also players who are perhaps a bit more straightforward in order to use perhaps either their pace or to score themselves.
"For that it is always like quite often we have more or less one winger who is a bit more straightforward and attacks also with his pace or with dribbling and perhaps one more who is more capable to deliver some assists and for that we always need for each and every game to find a good balance.
"I would say Daniel for example fits to several of our winger types but also not to each and every one of it and for that it's always to find the balance who starts in the game.
"He has all chances to impress in training, he has all chances to use his chances when he comes on and then we always try to find the good balance and the right decisions for the oppositions."
Continue Reading