Leeds United v Newcastle United - Premier League 2026/27
Daniel James of Leeds United arrives during the Premier League match between Leeds United and Newcastle United at Elland Road in Leeds, United Kingdom, on September 14, 2026. (Photo by Alfie Cosgrove/News Images/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
For the most part, the Leeds United players who have been away on international duty have remained injury-free.
The exception to this would be Jean-Matteo Bahoya. The winger picked up an ankle injury during France U21s’ game against Luxembourg U21s.
The France U21 manager, Gerald Baticle, claimed that Bahoya will undergo further tests on his ankle immediately. Leeds will be sitting with their fingers crossed, hoping that the injury is not too serious. However, Zinny Boswell has recently reported that this injury has forced Bahoya to withdraw from the France squad.
However, there is one Leeds United player who is the biggest winner following the news of Bahoya’s injury. It means more opportunities for game time will continue to come his way.
Dan James to benefit the most from Jean-Matteo Bahoya’s injury
For most of our Premier League games this season, we have lined up in a 5-3-2 formation, so it’s been hard for any winger aside from Noah Okafor to start consistently.
However, Daniel Farke frequently switches systems in-game to accommodate two wingers and play a 5-2-3. Harry Wilson, Dan James, Brenden Aaronson and Bahoya are the options Farke has from the bench.
However, with Wilson picking up a quad injury prior to the international break and Bahoya sustaining an ankle injury, this effectively guarantees that James will receive a sizeable chunk of minutes as a sub for now, you would imagine, as he continues to try to prove why he should be in the starting XI for our Premier League games.
Aside from his Man of the Match performance against Nottingham Forest in the Carabao Cup, it’s been more of the same from James when he has played in the Premier League.
In his three cameo appearances this season, he’s offered nothing from the bench. Supporters are beginning to become more and more frustrated when they see the Welshman get subbed on for United.
Bahoya has found it hard to get opportunities so far under Farke. But just as it looked like he was breaking into the team, with the youngster making his debut against Crystal Palace, he’s now met with an injury setback.
So in the meantime, it looks like James has a huge opportunity to prove why he should be ahead of Bahoya in the pecking order.
It could potentially be Dan James’ final chance to impress for Leeds
It was only 90 seconds or so, but against Palace, Bahoya did more in his brief cameo than James and Aaronson combined.
I thought after the international break, the youngster’s involvement would only grow even further. This would shift James even further towards the fringes of the squad.
The 49ers wouldn’t be willing to commit £25.7million to signing Bahoya if they didn’t think he could have a major impact for Leeds.
But for now, it doesn’t look like this will be the case. James must impress when club football returns at the weekend if he wants to prevent this from happening at some stage this season.
Last week, Football Insider reported James could push to leave in January if he does not get more minutes.
I think a January exit for James is unlikely. But it does feel like this season is James’ last opportunity to prove he can cut it in the Premier League for Leeds.
Since our promotion in 2025, James is yet to register a goal or assist in 22 Premier League appearances.
The Welshman looks to be running out of time in West Yorkshire unless he undergoes a massive U-turn in form. It seems inevitable that we’re outgrowing James as a club.
So before Bahoya can come back and start to show his quality, James needs to impress ASAP. Otherwise, the 28-year-old will likely be kicked to the curb and forced to watch the majority of the season unfold as a spectator.