Credit: Imago

Daniel Davis

Wed 22 April 2026 7:10, UK

Daniel Farke was in positive spirits during his Leeds United press conference.

That was hardly a surprise in light of recent results, which have lifted the mood at Elland Road into the stratosphere. Premier League safety is secure, even if it hasn’t been confirmed mathematically, while the Whites have an FA Cup semi-final to flex their muscles in.

But not everyone is riding the gravy train quite so gleefully.

Where to start with Dan James? The forward will surely find himself on his way out at the end of the summer, and there are question marks over whether he will be able to play any part in the run-in. An adductor issue has once again consigned him to the treatment table.

James does not appear to have a future at Leeds, having missed 17 matches already through injury. When he has played, he simply hasn’t seized his opportunities.

Where’s it gone wrong for Dan James at Leeds?

It was telling that James and his searing pace were not missed when Leeds upset Manchester United last week. He has been restricted to just 17 appearances across all competitions this season and has failed to score or register an assist in any of them.

Clearly, that’s not good enough.

While the Whites have been able to rely on James’ peers across the frontline, the Wales international will once again be bitterly disappointed with his impact – or lack thereof.

A hamstring strain saw him ruled out for the whole of December and January. He was then unable to force his way into the starting XI after returning, before his adductor injury pushed him back out of contention. Previewing the trip to Bournemouth, Farke was downcast.

“If you have had a year like DJ [James], then you need training session after training session,” he said. “He was and is a key player for me, but I also have to adapt a bit to reality.

“He needs session after session, not one or two. It’s unlucky that he comes back when we don’t have too many sessions due to the games. If he then grows session to session, then that is when he is back. It is not dependent on results.

“It depends on how he progresses with his body.”

The grim picture Farke has painted is actually more positive than reality reflects. Supporters will argue that James has already sealed his Leeds future after too many poor displays.

This is despite him impressing in the Championship last season. His inability to bridge the gap between the second tier and the top-flight is mind-boggling and cannot easily be explained. However, it’s clear he hasn’t adapted to the rigours of the Premier League.

James scored 12 goals and chalked up nine assists as the Whites sealed promotion back to the big time, earning himself a contract extension. That, though, appears to have been a costly misfire. With the ace now tied down until 2029, it may be difficult to shift him.

That leaves James in the driving seat. It would be difficult to blame him if he looked to stay at Elland Road in a bid to finally prove himself against the very best. But it also cannot be ruled out that he looks for a new challenge, desperate to draw a line under his frustration.

He has worked diligently during training and reflected in depth on his displays, scrutinising his game to the extent that he realised he didn’t shoot enough. But not even this quest to conquer the fine margins has been enough for him to turn the tide.

James’ Elland Road frustration laid bare

It’s crucial here to recall just how eager Leeds were to sign him in the first place.

Let’s cast back to Marcelo Bielsa‘s infamous Spygate press conference, conducted in a dark video room at the club’s Thorp Arch base. Eagle-eyed journalists were drawn to a folder on the overhead projector screen emblazoned with a name: Daniel James.

Two weeks later, James was at that very same training base posing for photos. Shortly after, however, Swansea pulled out of talks, scuppering the deal at the death.

When James eventually secured his switch to the Whites, he became a £25million misfit. Bielsa never really knew how to handle him. Jesse Marsch was similarly at a loose end after his appointment. Farke changed this, only to then whip the carpet out from under him.

Farke has valued safety and structure over a maverick edge this season, understandably so. But James has fallen victim to this approach. He is too rough and unpredictable to be fully trusted, and this has resulted in him largely being benched when he has been fit to play.

Enough is enough, for the benefit of both the player and his club.

James deserves regular minutes at a club that leans on his strengths, while Leeds cannot afford to carry passengers as they look to build on this outstanding campaign.