Henk ten Cate has said out loud what Joel Piroe’s Leeds United season already shows. Daniel Farke has not started the striker since August 2025, in the Premier League.
The Suriname boss has delivered a blunt but fair assessment of Piroe’s situation at Elland Road, and it cuts straight to the reality of life in the Premier League.
Speaking ahead of Suriname’s World Cup play-off against Bolivia, manager ten Cate made it clear that Piroe’s lack of minutes is not unusual. It is the level he is now operating at.
Piroe has just received his first senior call-up for Suriname, qualifying through his father, with a place in the next round against Iraq on the line if they beat Bolivia.
But while the international stage offers opportunity, his manager’s message is firmly rooted in what is happening at Leeds.
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Ten Cate makes the Leeds situation clear
“He does not play regularly but is at the very highest level,” ten Cate said, as quoted by the YEP: “The English league is by far the strongest in the world. It can happen that you end up on the bench.”
There is no criticism in that assessment. It is a straightforward explanation of the jump Piroe has made.
Last season, he was the Championship’s Golden Boot winner with 19 goals.
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This season, he is part of a Premier League squad where chances are far harder to come by, something reflected in his limited role compared to Leeds’ attacking options this season.
The statistics back up exactly what ten Cate is saying
Piroe has made 13 Premier League appearances this season, but he has started just two matches. Those came against Everton and Arsenal in Leeds’ opening fixtures, and he has not started a league game since.
He has also been left unused on numerous occasions, underlining just how limited his opportunities have been, a trend also noted in recent Leeds United squad usage breakdowns.
Joel Piroe in action for Leeds United
Photo by Pat Scaasi/MI News/NurPhoto via Getty Images
In terms of output, there is only one goal to his name this season. That came in the FA Cup against Norwich. That performance is the one former Chelsea and Barcelona assistant ten Cate pointed to.
“I have told Joël that he has to work really hard. When the chance comes, you have to seize it,” he said.
“He did that against Norwich. He played a very good game and scored an important goal.”
It is a telling example. The opportunities are rare, and when they arrive, they have to be taken.
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From Golden Boot to waiting for moments
The contrast with last season is stark. Piroe was central to Leeds’ attacking output in the Championship, scoring 19 goals and leading the line week after week. He was the focal point.
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Now, he is a squad option in the Premier League, waiting for moments rather than dictating games, similar to other Leeds players adjusting to top-flight demands.
That shift is exactly what ten Cate is addressing. His message is not about frustration. It is about responsibility. For now, Piroe will be focused on representing Suriname tonight, against Bolivia.
Back at Leeds, Piroe cannot control how often he starts. He can control what he does when he gets on the pitch. That is the reality of his current position at Leeds.
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