Four Leeds United players are in Wales' World Cup qulification squad, including fit-again winger Daniel James
Richard Garnett Central Audience Sport Content Editor
06:00, 14 Nov 2025
Dan James during a Wales press conference at the Vale Resort, Hensol
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Dan James during a Wales press conference at the Vale Resort, Hensol(Image: David Davies/PA Wire)
Daniel James insists he is ready to make a difference for Leeds United and get them further up the Premier League table, even if that means coming off the bench.
The Elland Road favourite was an integral figure during the Whites' title-winning promotion campaign, but has found his opportunities to be limited since returning to the top-flight.
James has made eight Premier League appearances so far this season, but five of them have been off the substitutes' bench. He missed matches against Wolves and Tottenham with muscle and ankle injuries, respectively, and has been used sparingly by Daniel Farke in recent weeks.
The 28-year-old played 16 minutes of the 3-1 defeat at Nottingham Forest last weekend and got just three minutes in Leeds' last home game against West Ham - their only win in six matches.
Nevertheless, he appears to have got his head down and is focused on performing for Wales in their crucial forthcoming World Cup qualification matches before turning his attention back to club matters.
Despite his limited gametime, James remains upbeat and ready to play his part, however big or small it may be.
Speaking to reporters in a Wales press conference, he said: “I feel in a really good place at the moment. I'm just working as hard as I can, putting everything into training so that I'm ready to come away for Wales, but also ready to come on the pitch for Leeds, even if I'm not starting. Mentally, I am always ready to make a difference.”
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The ex-Manchester United forward missed Wales' crucial qualification match against Belgium last month, a match the Dragons were edged out in 4-3 by the Group J favourites.
But James - who is backing teammate Nathan Ampadu to take the national team armband this weekend - remains positive that his national team can still take their chances to qualify for the finals in Canada, Mexico and the USA next year, with upcoming games against Liechtenstein and crucially North Macedonia on the horizon.
He added: “We went toe-to-toe with Belgium. We've just got to look at those games and see what we can do better for the next two.
“There's no easy pathway to the World Cup, but we don’t look past the next game against Liechtenstein. It's going to be a tough test and we have to go into that game just like every other game, believing that we can win.”
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