Leeds United’s return to Championship action is edging closer with the international fixtures set to draw to a close tonight.
Ahead of the break, things were really starting to look up for Leeds with back-to-back wins over QPR and Bristol City propelling them up to fifth in the table.
The difficulties of the opening few weeks of the season are now firmly behind Daniel Farke’s squad, and they can now look forward to pushing even further up the table.
Here’s our Power Rankings for the 2023/24 season so far.
1) Ethan Ampadu
Both the signing and player of the season so far, Ethan Ampadu has been outstanding since his £7 million move from Chelsea.
Aside from the defeat at Southampton, Ampadu has dominated every midfield he has come up against this season, and is already a key part of Farke’s side.
You would be pressed to find a better holding midfielder in this division.
2) Georginio Rutter
Georginio Rutter has well and truly put his difficult start to life at Leeds behind him and is now a joy to watch week in, week out.
Rutter has two goals and three assists so far this season, but in truth, could’ve had even more if he was stronger in front of goal.
Either way, his passing, dribbling and pace have been far too much for Championship defences.
3) Pascal Struijk
Farke has put Pascal Struijk back into his natural position this season and who would’ve thought that is where he is at his strongest.
Struijk is now well and truly back to his best, with his ability to pass from deep key to the way Farke has tasked his side to build from the back.
He, Ampadu and Joe Rodon have formed an extremely strong base for Leeds’ attacking players to go and thrive.
4) Sam Byram
Leeds’ left-back issues have well and truly been put behind them this season thanks to the performances of Sam Byram.
Byram’s arrival on a free transfer was met with apprehension in the summer but so far he has managed to keep himself fit, which has enabled him to perform incredibly consistently.
It is very rare to see Byram ever drop below a 7/10.
5) Archie Gray
Perhaps his age has bumped him up this list a tad, but there is no doubt Archie Gray has enjoyed a brilliant breakthrough season so far.
Gray has started 11 of Leeds’ 13 matches in all competitions so far and has looked at home in every single one of them, whether that at right-back, or central midfield.
The more he continues to play, the better he will get – which is a scary thought.
6) Joe Rodon
Joe Rodon has been a huge contributing factor to Leeds’ improvement at the back since his loan move from Tottenham Hotspur.
The Wales international is a monster in the air, is confident at bringing the ball out from the back, and has the pace to cover Struijk when needed.
In almost every way, he complements his centre-back partner Struijk permanently and Leeds could not have brought in much better at this level.
7) Crysencio Summerville
Like Rutter, Crysencio Summerville is so often a joy to watch when he is at full flow in the Championship, which seems to be happening more and more frequently.
Summerville’s pace and trickery is so often too much for his opponents, who have frequently had to resort to fouling him in order to stop him.
He would arguably be even higher up this list, had his tally of two goals and two assists been as high as it should be.
8) Joel Piroe
Leeds needed a goalscorer in the summer and that is exactly what they have got in signing Joel Piroe from Swansea City.
Piroe has netted five goals in eight appearances so far for Leeds, a record which cannot be frowned upon.
With that tally, you would’ve expected Piroe to be higher up this list but due to a combination of quality performances elsewhere, and sometimes going missing in matches, eighth is about fair.
9) Dan James
There is no doubt that Dan James can be an incredibly frustrating watch, but you cannot dispute the numbers he has produced so far.
James has scored one goal and provided four assists in the Championship this season, with the latter bettered only by former Leeds man Leif Davis.
Once Willy Gnonto is back fit, James will face a huge fight to keep his place, but that should only spur him on.
10) Illan Meslier
Given Leeds’ clean sheet record so far this season it would be unfair not to include goalkeeper Illan Meslier on this list.
Meslier is already looking far more confident between the sticks in comparison to last term, while his distribution also seems to have improved, too.
It is good to see him getting somewhere close to where he was a couple of years ago.
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