Daniel James has played just 72 minutes for Leeds United since returning back from his ankle injury
Isaac Johnson Leeds United reporter
06:00, 11 Nov 2025
Daniel James is back up to full fitness
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Daniel James is back up to full fitness(Image: Malcolm Bryce/Leeds United via Getty Images)
Daniel James could well start his first game since August soon - just not for Leeds United. Wales have crunch World Cup qualifier games against Liechtenstein and North Macedonia this international break with the Dragons looking for a top two finish in their group.
Daniel Farke has declared James fit - so you can bet Craig Bellamy will make use of that over the next 10 days or so. There are questions why Farke himself has not done so since James’ return from an ankle injury.
Pressed on why the winger did not start against Nottingham Forest on Sunday, Farke explained: “It’s not just a tactical choice, it’s also performance-related. He didn’t have the best pre-season because he was injured, and also not the best run of games.
“Once we started the Premier League season, he was also out for a bit. I didn’t see in the last games when he came in that he took the league by storm. We have really good other offensive players, so it’s not that easy.”
It is true that James has not found top form since injuring his hamstring back in April, but it still feels harsh to critique performance. As Farke said, James has endured a tough start to the season due to his injury problems.
When he came on against Fulham, it was the Welshman who drove forward to win a free-kick that ended in him being taken back off after getting a knock to the torso. When he returned ahead of time against Burnley, he provided more spark than Brenden Aaronson.
James was given just three minutes against West Ham amid Aaronson’s man of the match display. With not much going in his favour against Brighton, James responded by being the brightest Leeds winger of the second half at Nottingham Forest.
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A few days before the trip to the City Ground, Farke had explained how he liked a “good balance between creators and also players who are perhaps a bit more straightforward”.
On James, he added: “Daniel fits several of our winger types, but also not each and every one. And for that, it's always to find the balance who starts in the game.”
Many fans feel this balance is not working. Aaronson’s display against the Hammers was a flash in the pan. He has irked match-goers with his displays and has often been part of the first batch of substitutes to be taken off.
Farke explained that he wanted to take “more risk” by bringing James on along with Joel Piroe and Dominic Calvert-Lewin in the 74th minute. It is fair to ask why he didn’t take more risk from the start.
The manager’s hand may be forced after the international break. Wales play at home against North Macedonia while Aaronson faces a long and late trip back from Florida after playing in the early hours of the Wednesday morning prior to the home match with Aston Villa.
James should probably start regardless, anyway. Aaronson works hard but it’s not like James doesn’t either. Leeds would gain more than they would lose by making what seems to many like an obvious choice.
Currently, the wings are very off-balance in terms of going forward, making it easier for opposition teams to figure out where to snuff out attacks. Frankly, Aaronson is not a difference maker - James is.
A manager lives and dies by his decisions and Farke has been far less lenient on other members of the squad who have under-performed in times gone by. Yes, this is the Premier League and standards must be higher. But currently, the team is not hitting those levels anyway.
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