Leeds United return to action on Sunday in the FA Cup
James Smailes
11:50, 31 Mar 2026
Leeds United manager Daniel Farke and player Dan James
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Leeds United manager Daniel Farke and player Dan James(Image: PA)
Wales manager Craig Bellamy says his staff will have to check on Dan James before this evening's match with Northern Ireland, with the fitness of the Leeds United winger a potential issue.
James scored a stunning goal last week against Bosnia and Herzegovina in the World Cup play-off, only for his nation to be knocked out on penalties after a 1-1 draw. The result ended the World Cup dream of James and his three fellow Leeds team-mates, Ethan Ampadu, Joe Rodon and Karl Darlow, who are also all away on international duty.
James impressed in the game, but Bellamy says his lack of game time for Leeds meant he didn't have the necessary fitness to stay on in the game, and is also the reason behind the concerns of whether he will be ready to play against Northern Ireland in a match up of two beaten play-off teams.
“Dan James we have to check on because he’s had one game in four months leading into this - and he was ill leading into the camp," explained Bellamy.
“The output, he’d done more than what we thought he was going to be able to do. I’d have loved to have kept him on for 120 minutes [against Bosnia] with the way he was playing, all day long, but physically it wasn’t possible. He was cramping up and he needed to come off. So we’re really checking on him at the present moment.”
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James' impact at Leeds has been diluted in 2026 after only returning from injury in early February after two months out. Last season's key man in aiding Leeds' promotion, returned to find his side playing a new system which is not best suited to his strengths and as a result he has been a benchwarmer, appearing just five times as a substitute in the Premier League in 2026.
Leeds boss Daniel Farke will hope he can factor James into his thinking for Sunday's FA Cup quarter-final at West Ham, but much will depend on the player's participation tonight and his fitness when he returns to Leeds training on Thursday.
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