DANIEL JAMES will have to adapt to the new set-up at Leeds United when he returns from injury, rather than the other way around.
James is back in team training building up his fitness having not played since the 3-2 defeat at Manchester City at the end of November.
His half-time withdrawal with a hamstring tendon injury at Eastlands was a pivotal moment in Leeds' season. They brought on an extra central defender in Jaka Bikol, and Dominic Calvert-Lewin for Willy Gnonto and switched to a 3-5-2 formation.
Whereas the 4-2-3-1 of the last two Championship seasons and the 4-3-3 which preceded the Manchester City game were ideal for an out-and-out winger like James, there is no obvious natural role for him in a 3-4-2-1.
He has often played at centre-forward in a 3-5-2 for Wales, but a lone striker in a team which has been effective playing directly into Calvert-Lewin at times is not such a good fit.
So despite having been one of Leeds' best players under Farke, winger James is likely to have to compete with Brenden Aaronson, Anton Stach, Noah Okafor and January signing Facundo Buonanotte to play as one of the inside-forwards.
"I always like to play my players to their strengths, that's quite important," said the manager.
TURNING POINT: Daniel James' injury at Manchester City changed the picture for Leeds United (Image: Carl Recine/Getty Images)placeholder image
TURNING POINT: Daniel James' injury at Manchester City changed the picture for Leeds United (Image: Carl Recine/Getty Images)
"It makes no sense to press players into roles they don't like and where they can't shine. It's important to take into account where the strengths of each player lies.
"But on the other hand it would also be tricky to rely on just one player who has individually had a very difficult season due to his injuries.
"He has more or less missed the whole season so far due to several short-term injuries and now a longer-term injury, so we won't be putting too much pressure on his shoulders."
James, who scored 25 Championship goals from out wide in the last two seasons, has only started four league games since April 8, so it would make little sense to change too much on his behalf.
BALANCING ACT: Leeds United manager Daniel Farke (Image: George Wood/Getty Images)placeholder image
BALANCING ACT: Leeds United manager Daniel Farke (Image: George Wood/Getty Images)
"We won't change the set-up for the situation when he is fully fit to play him in his best possible position," promised Farke.
"For (Lionel) Messi in his prime you would perhaps do that but it's important right now not to put too much expectation and pressure on the shoulders of Daniel.
"It's good to have him back. He should enjoy being back and enjoy every training session.
"When we've got the feeling he is ready to be in the matchday squad and we are ready to pick him he will have a chance to shine but it is a bit too early to think about changing our set-up to use him to his very best."
Leeds were unable to land the striker they ideally wanted on deadline day having been priced out of a move for Jorgen Strand Larsen, who moved from Wolverhampton Wanderers to Crystal Palace on Monday evening.
The Whites were relaxed about not rushing into signing an inferior centre-forward in no small part thanks to the form of Calvert-Lewin, who has nine goals this season. Aaronson has been impressed by the impact of the Sheffield-born targetman.
"For him to be playing the way that he is, for him to be getting the goals that he is – yeah they're not maybe the prettiest goals in the world, but strikers don't score the prettiest goals in the world," said the American international.
"He's in the right place at the right time.
"It speaks volumes of what kind of striker he is. He's hungry for goals right now, and that's a good thing."