Dan James involvement mooted ahead of Leeds United v Southampton amid injury update
Dan James will be unlikely to start the clash between Leeds United against Southampton on the final day of the season, even if he were to return from injury, Paul Robinson has said.
During his press conference ahead of the QPR clash (25 April), Daniel Farke revealed that the Welshman would be unavailable but suggested that there was still “hope” he could return to face the Saints.
The 26-year-old winger has experienced a sensation campaign at Elland Road, notching 13 goals and seven assists in all competitions, but suffered an abdominal injury in the 4-3 win over Middlesbrough.
Speaking exclusively to MOT Leeds News, Robinson said: “The manager has changed it up a little bit the past few weeks, trying to find the right formula, with Dan James coming back in and Connor Roberts, hopefully, coming back in.
“Gnonto, Rutter and Summerville played in a three behind Piroe, which from the outside, seems like a decent four. Where Dan James comes into that and whose place he would take, I don’t know, as Gnonto and Summerville can always do it on their day. For me, they would play.
“Whether it’s Rutter who moves out, or Piroe moves out and Rutter goes into the nine, depending on Bamford’s fitness. But to have the pace of Dan James available, and being Leeds’ second-top goalscorer this season, the manager will find a way to get him onto the pitch at some point.
“The game against Southampton is a difficult one because automatic promotion is out of the reckoning for them, so you’re hoping from a Leeds point of view that the manager is resting a few players with one eye on the playoffs.
“There’s another side to that because those players will be vying for a spot in those play-off games. So, it’s not a dead rubber for Southampton by any means, as much as we would have hoped for. I just genuinely hope that there’s a real atmosphere, and there will be at Elland Road because there is something to play for.”
Leeds United could miss Dan James against Southampton
As Robinson pointed out, James has been Leeds’ second-top goalscorer this season, with only Crysencio Summerville boasting more goals than the goal-hungry winger.
The Whites must ensure they claim all three points against the Saints on Saturday 4 May to have any chance of being automatically promoted to the Premier League this season.
They will also need to hope for the downfall of Ipswich Town, who are currently sitting three points above Farke’s side and set to face a deflated Huddersfield Town at Portman Road.
While there is uncertainty over the return of James, it could be worth making sure he is 100 per cent fit before including him in the squad, especially if Leeds are to drop into the Championship play-off spots.
In other Leeds United news, a teenage sensation is now set to snub Manchester United in order to move to Elland Road.
For more Leeds news, follow us on Facebook or join our brand new WhatsApp Channel for instant updates to be sent straight to your phone.