David Prutton wrong to snub Leeds ace Dan James amid ‘Ridiculous’ verdict
Dan James has been one of the most important players at Leeds United so far this season.
The Whites have had an excellent season until this point, sitting top of the Championship with 14 games remaining of the campaign.
With such little time remaining in the season, the league is starting to take shape and each game grows in importance week on week.
Daniel Farke will need his key players to step up and there is no better than the Wales international to have a telling impact in LS11.
David Prutton picks Ben Doak over Leeds United star Dan James
The winger signed from Manchester United had started his stint at Elland Road in frustrating fashion but appears to have finally found his feet.
This has seen him contribute with 10 goals and six assists so far this season in the Championship, the second most goal involvements in the Whites’ squad behind Joel Piroe.
As a result, it felt that the 27-year-old was a shoo-in to feature in David Prutton’s Team of the Year so far, but that isn’t the case.
Speaking via the Essential EFL podcast (13 February), the former Whites midfielder opted to select Middlesbrough loanee Ben Doak.
He said: “Picking Ben Doak proves how well we think he is doing.
“Wonderful ball carrier, I know for a fact that the powers that be at Liverpool have got extremely high hopes for this player. What he’s shown is that he’s more than capable in the Championship.
“He’s got something ridiculous like the most entries into the opposition’s box which causes chaos and opens up the game for his teammates.”
David Putton gets Daniel James verdict wrong at Leeds United
It is fair to say how positive the 19-year-old has been so far this campaign while on a season-long loan from Liverpool at the Riverside.
With that being said, his two goals and seven assists have helped to contribute to Michael Carrick’s playoff push but Boro only sit ninth right now, behind the likes of Sheffield Wednesday and Bristol City.
As a result, it is fair to say that the winger could have had a better impact to push his temporary side further up the Championship table.
On the flip side, James has contributed heavily to a side which reside at the top of the table and are firmly in the race to secure an automatic promotion place.
If the Whites are to earn a spot in the Premier League, the Welshman will have had a telling impact on that achievement, as much of an impression as anyone in the second tier.
If that is to be the case, there is no real grounds to say that Doak has been better than the former Swansea City attacker in the Championship.