Daniel James not ‘pleased’ with Leeds United handling of Fulham loan – Phil Hay
Daniel James was left unimpressed with Leeds United and the handling of his loan move to Fulham last season, according to Phil Hay.
Speaking on the Square Ball Podcast (25 September), the journalist suggested the 25-year-old could be struggling with confidence issues following his unsuccessful loan spell in West London.
Hay noted James’ good performance against Watford on Saturday (23 September) and pointed to his quality counter-attacking display against the Hornets.
Hay said: “A lower division in the way that it has to help Rutter, it wouldn’t surprise me at all if there was confidence issues there because it wasn’t a great move to Fulham and the way it was handled, I know that James wasn’t particularly pleased about.
“But I think what he did on Saturday was quite often what people accuse him of not doing, yes the running was there, sprinting, the counter-attacking and the threat to defences on the basis he’s so quick he’s a real handful. The end product was there on top of it and not for the first time either.”
Growing
Many have questioned James’ quality following his lacklustre loan spell with Fulham in the Premier League last season, but he has turned his fortunes around with a good start to life in the Championship.
Hay did not go into detail regarding James’ specific disappointment regarding his loan move, but perhaps the move itself was not what James needed at the time.
The Welshman was highly prized during his time with Swansea City, earning him a move to Manchester United. Making such a huge move at a young age would boosted his confidence significantly, but since then he has slowly slipped down the pyramid and finds himself back in the second division.
Having such a turbulent time in his short career would understandably take it’s toll on the 25-year-old, but under Daniel Farke he is slowly rediscovering his form and could play a key role in the Whites’ bid to return to the Premier League.
Per FBRef, James has earned four assists in the Championship – not just the highest amongst the Leeds squad but the highest across the Championship. He is yet to get his first goal of the season, but he continues to use his rapid pace and technical ability to cause problems for almost every defence he encounters.
However, he is edging closer and closer to opening his tally, having the second-highest shots per 90 of any Elland Road star to have played above four 90s. His creativity has been a driving force behind much of Leeds’ success, earning 23 shot-creating actions this season.
While he has struggled to cut it in the Premier League, he will be anxious to return to the pinnacle of English football and prove his doubters wrong. If he continues his current form, he could certainly do this at Elland Road.
In other Leeds United news the Whites have pulled off a masterstroke with an under-the-radar signing.