Credit: Imago

Dan Godfrey

Wed 26 March 2025 15:10, UK

Joel Piroe will be desperate to get back among the goals at a crucial time for Leeds United in the race for a Premier League return.

A mini-drought of four matches has loomed over the 15-goal striker of late, which will have frustrated Daniel Farke after the faith he showed to bring him into the starting XI, having initially preferred Mateo Joseph to lead the line.

Piroe has trained at Thorp Arch over the past week with several teammates across the world on international duty – something reportedly an option for the Dutchman during the current break.

Piroe turns down international call-up

Piroe has been in inspired form up until recently, and has been a key driving force behind the non-negotiable mission of returning Leeds to the Premier League at the second attempt.

The added motivation for the 25-year-old is that he is yet to test himself in the English top flight, and would likely be kept around by the Whites in the event of promotion.

An interesting side quest for Piroe, however, is his international future. The striker has represented the Netherlands up to Under-20 level, but was offered a call-up by Suriname for the current international break by family descent.

Suriname faced a Concacaf preliminary knockout contest against Martinique over the past week, securing a 2-0 aggregate win, but Piroe was nowhere to be seen.

The frontman revealed he turned down the call from the Suriname FA to focus on the promotion challenge with Leeds (Yorkshire Evening Post, 25 March), a move which has appeased many supporters at Elland Road.

Leeds United fans divided by Piroe claim

While some Leeds fans branded Piroe as heroic and dedicated for turning down the Surinamese opportunity, others were not quite as convinced.

Some fans and media alike were of the view that the striker would have jumped at the chance to jet off on international duty had it been for the Netherlands.

In Piroe’s defence, the opportunity to play for the senior team of the Oranje is not out of the question given the season he’s had, and Premier League football would certainly put him in the frame after a sketchy inconsistency from the Dutch national side since the turn of the century.

However, the sceptical supporters are probably simultaneously correct. Piroe’s ambition to play for the Dutch team clearly outweighs that of his desire to play for Suriname.

With the criticism becoming louder, the opportunity to make it about Leeds was likely to be an ideal trump card for Piroe to play to keep the masses onside as he awaits the chance to break his duck at Elland Road.

The opportunity could not be more salivating for the talismanic striker than this Saturday (29 March), when his former employers Swansea City come from West Wales to West Yorkshire.

It could be a belter to get Leeds back on track.