Neither player has started a Premier League game since November and the season will soon be over
Isaac Johnson Leeds United reporter
05:00, 03 Apr 2026
Wilfried Gnonto is finding regular minutes hard to come by
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Wilfried Gnonto is finding regular minutes hard to come by(Image: Visionhaus/Getty Images)
With wingers ditched, Wilfried Gnonto and Daniel James have been left wondering where their next real break at Leeds United will come from.
Sure, the FA Cup has provided a key opportunity to make a statement but progression is never guaranteed and playing within rotated teams is not the ideal setting for such players to shine. At least with Noah Okafor he has previously played centrally for long periods in his career.
Facundo Buonanotte is also a central attacking option. James and Gnonto have been played either as the main striker or just off the centre-forward before albeit not often and not always to potent effect.
Yet this is where it looks most likely they will earn their minutes for the rest of the season. In the 3-4-2-1 formation often deployed by Daniel Farke, the likes of Brenden Aaronson and Lukas Nmecha have played as the left-sided attacking midfielder.
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This system sees them move out to the flank to come inside when in possession and requires them to fill back into a 5-4-1 set-up when against the ball.
Therefore, these attacking midfielders must be disciplined to fall back into structure and perhaps hints at why James and Gnonto - not known for the defensive efforts - have not been utilised as much.
Indeed, neither player has started a Premier League game since the switch to a back-three set-up in November, the pair having to feed off substitute appearances. And usually when either player is put on, the formation changes to become more attacking, or at least more fluid.
Ball retention is also important in the areas behind the striker. Being dispossessed leaves the midfield directly exposed with the wing-backs usually pinned high when on the ball. Aaronson, a hard-worker anyway, is valued because of his retention work.
“If you look at his objective data, even when substituted in, it is top,” said Farke on Thursday. “His point average when he starts is pretty good. His work rate is never in doubt.
"Like all players, he was up and down in the season. But I like his attitude and what he delivers.”
Brenden Aaronson gets through a lot of mileage for Leeds United
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Brenden Aaronson gets through a lot of mileage for Leeds United(Image: James Gill - Danehouse/Getty Images)
Aaronson thus fits the attacking ‘two’ role like a glove and it is no surprise to see that he has started the last 15 Premier League games, despite a drop-off from winter-period levels. In theory, Buonanotte also fits the bill albeit he has clearly not been at the standard required since arriving on loan in January.
His stalling opens the door for James and Gnonto, because it seems this role is their best chance of game time; the left-side attacking midfield role is not as set as the wing-back slots with Gabriel Gudmundsson and James Justin.
As per Farke's comments on Aaronson’s role: “There is competition. Players like Daniel James, Willy, Noah and Facundo - who has also trained well in the last two weeks - all have a chance to take this spot.
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“To impress in training and when they play in the game to use this chance. I always react [based] on the games and what happens on the training pitch. They all have chances to be involved in the upcoming games.”
Trend would suggest that Aaronson retains his post for most if not all of the remaining Premier League games, so it is up to Gnonto and James to make an impact from the bench and somehow show they can deliver in a role in which is not natural to their skillset.
That is the reality of the task and one which is far from easy. But it seems that this is their best avenue for game time for the final two months.