Neil Warnock names Leeds United player as his favourite in Championship
Neil Warnock has named Leeds United winger Daniel James as his favourite player in the Championship.
Speaking on talkSPORT (5 February, 7:40am), Warnock said James is his “favourite player” in the second tier, praising his attitude in comparison to Crysencio Summerville and Georginio Rutter.
Arguing that James is one player he’d have loved to manage at some point in his career, Warnock bemoaned that the Welshman was benched for last May’s play-off final defeat to Southampton.
Warnock said: “When I watched [Summerville and Rutter] in the play-off [final] last year, I thought they were too individual, those lads.
“I remember pulling Daniel James – he’s my favourite player in the Championship, he has been for years, and he wasn’t playing that day.
“I remember saying to him, ‘if I had one player I wish I could’ve managed, it would have been you’ – because I love his attitude, and I think it breeds it when you’ve got people like Daniel James.”
Daniel James deserves all the praise he gets at Leeds United
Warnock’s sentiment towards James is shared by many a United fan, and his performances have also made him one of the most feared players that any Championship defence can come up against.
Despite Summerville and Rutter grabbing plenty of the headlines last season – and the subsequent big-money moves to Premier League sides – James still notched over 20 goal contributions himself.
A tally of 13 goals and seven assists last season is already well on course to be beaten this term with James having eight and six respectively, and that’s with even more competition for places out wide.
Willy Gnonto and Largie Ramazani are restricted to the bench at the moment as Manor Solomon and James become increasingly undroppable, with the Welsh international justifying his number seven shirt.
It’s a far cry from the days which saw Paul Green and Luke Varney occupy the flanks during Warnock’s tenure at Elland Road, but he and any other manager would love to have James out wide at the moment.
In other Leeds news, the Whites have made a “massive loss” on one player whose exit was confirmed in the last few days.
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