Dan James looks set to take on an unfamiliar Leeds United role this weekend as he prepares to make his first appearance of the season. James missed last week’s Premier League opener against Wolves as he completed the suspension he was given back in May for being sent off against Chelsea at Elland Road.
The winger captained the club’s under-21s instead and caught the eye as he helped them to a 5-2 victory over Derby County at Pride Park. He’ll come back into the first-team this time around, though, but Jesse Marsch has confirmed he won’t start for the Whites against Southampton at St Mary’s Stadium.
James isn’t exactly used to playing as a substitute in a Leeds shirt. In fact, of the 35 appearances he made in all competitions during his first season at Elland Road, just three came off the bench.
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However, with Rodrigo in a streak of hot goal-scoring form coming off pre-season and Brenden Aaronson currently starring on the right edge of Leeds’ front four, Marsch is planning to use him in the second half on Saturday in the hope he can make an impact against tired Saints legs.
“Dan played 90 minutes in the 21s game against Derby and I thought he thought he played well,” Marsch said when asked about the 24-year-old. “So he's fit, he's strong, he's ready to go.
“I think it'll be a big option for us to have him come from the bench. I think that's the role that we'll use them in for this weekend and then Dan will continue to integrate and we'll find moments for him to be also on the pitch from the start because he's a really important player for us.
“He has a lot of flexibility and quality and so yeah, excited to integrate Dan more and more and we tried to get the balance right in pre-season where he was with the first-team in some matches, but also to give opportunities for other guys to work toward being prepared for the first match but now I think Dan's ready.”
Marsch clearly has his plan moving forward but for the time being, at least, James may have to get used to playing a role off the bench. As mentioned above, Aaronson and Rodrigo have been firing over the summer and both had key roles to play in the club’s win over Wolves last weekend.
Jack Harrison is currently leading the way for a spot on the left, while the competition for a spot on either wing has intensified this week with the return to fitness of Luis Sinisterra. Sinisterra is still waiting to make his Leeds debut following his switch from Feyenoord after picking up a hamstring injury in the pre-season friendly clash with Crystal Palace in Perth last month.
The Colombia international was signed as a Raphinha replacement and if he settles as expected he will start to compete for a spot in Marsch’s starting line-up almost immediately. Throw Crysencio Summerville into the mix, who looks set to take on more of a senior role this season, and it seems James has plenty of competition for a starting spot for United.
Of course, his versatility is a string to his bow, and he can play through the middle if required to do so. However, with a place in Wales’ World Cup squad to claim, James knows he must rise to the challenge over the coming weeks and months.
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