Calvert-Lewin has explained the impact that the defender has had on the Leeds United squad
Isaac Johnson Leeds United reporter
10:22, 26 Feb 2026Updated 10:25, 26 Feb 2026
Dominic Calvert-Lewin has singled out a defender for high praise
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Dominic Calvert-Lewin has singled out a defender for high praise(Image: Nigel French/Sportsphoto/Allstar via Getty Images)
Dominic Calvert-Lewin has lavished praise on fellow summer signing James Justin, branding him a leader and instrumental in Leeds United’s surge towards Premier League survival.
Justin arrived from Leicester City in an initial £8million deal and had to wait until November’s trip to Manchester City to earn his first start for his new club. Of course, that was the game when Daniel Farke first enacted his back-three formation, the catalyst for the club's terrific form.
Leeds have only lost twice since then and Justin has been a staple in the side, starting the last nine Premier League matches having also taken the armband for the first time in the FA Cup fourth round trip to Birmingham City amid team rotation.
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“His whole personality, he was top also in the periods of the season when he was not playing - he was always professional, always supportive, always thinking about the team side before the player,” Farke later said of Justin.
“He embodies us in a perfect way. He doesn't even need the armband, he's a leader in our dressing room anyway.
“I don't want to overdo it at the moment, but I've got great characters and great leaders in my dressing room, I'm pretty fortunate in these terms.”
Calvert-Lewin echoes the praises of Farke for fellow England international Justin. He described how his character has been an influence on the whole squad.
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“Since he’s come into the team, he’s made such a difference in how he plays and carries himself and manages the game, and how that then spreads across the group,” Calvert-Lewin told BBC Radio Leeds.
“You can see the way he leads by example - it’s been key in this run that we’ve been on. He doesn’t get enough credit that he deserves. He keeps himself to himself, he’s a quiet guy day to day. But for me, when he’s on the pitch he’s top level.”
Justin, 28, has two goals and an assist in 22 matches for Leeds. He signed a four-year contract upon arriving at Elland Road last summer.