Leeds United: Tim Sherwood wowed by ‘absolutely lightning’ Dan James on Sky Sports
Championship defenders will be “terrified” by the pace of Leeds United winger Dan James, according to Tim Sherwood.
The former Tottenham midfielder and manager was speaking about James, 26, before Leeds’ 1-0 defeat away at Sunderland on Tuesday night.
Before that game, the Wales international had gone on a run of scoring six goals in seven Championship matches and Sherwood believes that the winger’s form is largely down to his blistering pace.
“I’d be terrified if I was defending against him with his pace and how he can hurt you in behind,” said Sherwood live on Sky Sports News on Tuesday night (07:43pm, 12 December). “Automatically, your back four or five players need to go another 10 yards back because if you leave space behind, he is absolutely lightning.
“He looks like he’s a little bit calmer in front of goal as well.
“He’s still a young man and I think he’s got plenty of time and he could come back to the Premier League with Leeds.”
Dan James is on fire, your defence is terrified
It’s a shame James couldn’t follow up Sherwood’s praise with a goalscoring display at the Stadium of Light on Tuesday but Sunderland coped well with the winger.
The managerless Black Cats now have back-to-back wins against teams in the play-offs and have seen themselves shoot up to sixth in the process.
Tony Mowbray’s sacking was a controversial one but at this point, it’s one that has worked out well for them.
Sunderland’s good form has been built on the foundation of a solid defence.
They set up to frustrate Leeds on Tuesday and unfortunately for us, it worked.
Daniel Farke needs to start rotating because he’s running the risk of burning his players out and also becoming quite predictable.
If you know how to cope with his starting line-up when he doesn’t change it that much, you’re going to affect our form and that’s what happened on Wearside.
In other Leeds United news, two first-team forwards could exit Elland Road in the January window.