Ross McCormack shares review of Ao Tanaka at Leeds United, 'without being disrespectful'

Ross McCormack has been in awe of Ao Tanaka at Leeds United this season, believing the midfielder is "a level above" his teammates.

The 26-year-old has been thrust into the first team at Elland Road while regular starters Ethan Ampadu and Ilia Gruev nurse long-term injuries, helping the side climb to third in the Championship table.

Tanaka has thrived under the pressure this year and former Leeds forward McCormack went one step further live on talkSPORT [24 October, 11:35pm], sharing he believes the Japanese international is now the best midfielder at the club.

He said: "The good thing for me is that they've lost Ampadu and Gruev in the midfield and everyone was all worried about what's going to happen, 'we need to sign someone'.

"But, they've pulled in the Japanese boy Tanaka and I think he is - without being disrespectful to the other two - a level above."

Ao Tanaka can hold down a starting spot for Leeds United

The Japanese international arrived at Leeds in the summer from Fortuna Dusseldorf to challenge for a starting berth under Daniel Farke but has since shone under carrying the weight of the midfield crisis on his shoulders.

Tanaka continued his dominant displays in the Championship with a commanding performance in the 2-1 win against Watford on Tuesday [22 October] and has completely flipped the script at Elland Road.

Ampadu and Gruev are no longer expected to walk into the starting lineup once they return from injury, with the pair now facing a fight among themselves to earn a spot in the midfield alongside Tanaka.

Leeds will soon have fierce competition in the middle of the pitch after the signing of Josuha Guilavogui, who is in contention to make his debut for the club against Bristol City on Saturday [26 October].

The Whites face a tricky test against Bristol at Ashton Gate and, despite a good run of form, will face a side unbeaten in their last six outings and it could be a potential banana skin for Farke.

However, Dan James and Manor Solomon have returned to boost the attacking ranks, and Tanaka alongside Joe Rothwell - as well as back-up Guilavogui - can hold down the fort in central midfield.

But Ampadu and Gruev are wrongly mistaken if they believe the starting spot is there for the taking over Tanaka once they return.

In other Leeds United news, Jermaine Beckford shares his Elland Road claim after what Gabriel Agbonlahor noticed about the Whites.

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