Michael Dawson heaps praise on ‘magnificent’ Daniel James in Leeds United win v Watford
Michael Dawson has heaped praise on Leeds United winger Daniel James for his involvement in the Whites’ opener against Watford.
Daniel Farke’s side were the better of the two teams for the majority of the game at Elland Road on Saturday 23 September and ultimately ran out 3-0 winners over the Hornets thanks to second-half goals from Joel Piroe, Sam Bryam and Jaidon Anthony.
Welsh international James was the man to create both goals, picking up two assists on his fifth start to the campaign to take his total record to four for the season and his involvement in Farke’s team’s opener received plenty of praise from former England international Dawson.
Speaking on Sky Sports Soccer Saturday (23 September, 4:29) he said: “It’s 1-0 to Leeds and it’s been only a matter of time. Daniel Bachmann has been magnificent, but he couldn’t do anything about this.
“The front three or front four you could say, Summerville on the other side. It comes down the right-hand side, Dan James absolutely magnificent, Piroe gets in the box, can you pick him out? Whips it across, yes he can, left foot from four yards out.”
Magnificent
So much was made before the season began about the incredible depth that Farke had at his disposal in the wide areas of his side at Elland Road and that couldn’t have been much more evident than it has been in the three games in the last week.
With Wilfried Gnonto missing through injury, there would have been plenty of fans worrying how Leeds would do in the Italian’s absence, but James has been in such good form for Farke’s side that he is arguably now more important than Gnonto.
The Welshman’s pace always terrifies defenders, that was true in the Premier League and it will undoubtedly be the case in England’s second tier. What has been refreshing so far this season has been the fact the 25-year-old has also produced the end product to impact proceedings in the final third.
Given Leeds United have such strength in depth in the front areas, most chances that the wingers create will be put away by the likes of Piroe and Rutter. If James can keep up this early season form creatively, it could be key to ensuring the strikers score the goals to push Farke’s team into the promotion race.
In other Leeds United news, Farke has revealed he broke tradition with his approach to Piroe’s substitution against Hull City