Credit: Imago

Daniel Lewis

Thu 26 March 2026 9:40, UK

Joel Piroe has been told to make the most of every opportunity he gets at Leeds United by Suriname head coach Henk ten Cate.

The 26-year-old has struggled for minutes in the Premier League since top-scoring for Leeds in the Championship last season.

Piroe has started just two games in the top flight for the Whites this campaign, while featuring a further 11 times from the substitutes’ bench – usually late on.

That has inevitably let to talk that Piroe could be on his way out of Elland Road in the summer in order to kickstart his career.

However, amid all that transfer talk at Leeds, Ten Cate is seemingly not overly concerned.

Henk ten Cate tells Joel Piroe to make most of Leeds chances

Piroe has been handed more starts in cup competitions – three – than he has in the Premier League this term.

The 26-year-old made the most of a recent opportunity handed to him as he netted in Leeds’ 3-0 FA Cup win over Norwich City.

Since that victory on 8 March, however, Piroe has sat out United’s past two matches, both of which have finished all square.

Piroe is now away on international duty with Suriname, who face Bolivia in a World Cup qualifier on Thursday night.

Asked about the former Swansea City ace’s predicament in West Yorkshire, Ten Cate is quoted by VG as saying: “He does not play regularly for Leeds but is at a club at the very highest level.

“The English league is by far the strongest in the world. It can happen that you end up on the bench. I have told Joël that he has to work really hard.

“When the chance comes, you have to seize it. He did that against Norwich. He played a very good game and scored an important goal.”

Ten Hanke is clearly not overly concerned by Piroe’s lack of minutes, then, and has instead put a positive spin on the situation.

The striker is playing in the best league in the world – albeit he is not featuring in it at all at the minute – and scored in his most recent outing for the Whites.

Where could Piroe end up next season?

Piroe could put himself in the shop window by playing at the World Cup, but he first needs to fire Suriname there.

There will inevitably be interest in the Wijchen-born player come the summer, as there was in the winter window.

Both Celtic and Rangers were linked, but it seemed like a move to the latter made more sense given the 49ers’ ties between the two clubs.

Numerous others were credited with an interest, including Birmingham City, but Piroe is unlikely to want to drop back down the divisions.

The harsh truth is that Piroe was not given a chance by Daniel Farke in the Premier League this season, but that is the German’s decision.

Piroe will know his time is likely up at Elland Road, but he has his own goals in mind to achieve before the campaign is up.