After scoring one and assisting another in Leeds United’s 2-0 victory over Norwich City, Dan James was keen to remind everyone watching that football is not an individual game.
Manor may be putting the ‘Solo’ in Solomon as the rampant winger continues his sparkling form – that is seven goals or assists in his last eight Championship appearances now – while fellow wideman James turned from provider to finisher on a dominant Wednesday night at Elland Road.
But, without the probing forward passes of Jayden Bogle, without the intelligent movement and silky space-invading of Brenden Aaronson, Dan James would not have the sort of room he requires to wreak havoc down the right-hand flank.
Bogle and Aaronson dovetailed beautifully to set James away for Leeds United’s opener. The fastest goal in the 2024/25 Championship campaigned converted by Solomon with just 32 seconds on the clock.
In his post-match discussion with the club’s in-house media channel – Leeds made light work of Norwich in the end – the Welsh wonder was asked about the role Bogle and Aaronson have played in enabling his stunning run of recent form.
James, while praising the rampaging right-back and the all-action American, was keen to ensure that another, perhaps less-heralded teammate got his flowers too.
In possession, Joe Rothwell produced one of his most eye-catching performances since joining Leeds on loan from AFC Bournemouth over the summer.
Dan James highlights Joe Rothwell’s importance at Leeds United
“I think ultimately it comes from Joe as well,” James says.
“When Joe drives forward and steps in, it sort of starts us off really. I think, with him driving, it puts [the opposition] on the back foot and it gives us a bit more time and space.”
Rothwell’s former Blackburn Rovers boss Tony Mowbray once likened the 30-year-old to Adama Traore and even ex-Newcastle talisman Allan Saint-Maximin due to his dizzying ball-carrying talents.
Rothwell, Mowbray said, was ‘the best in [the Championship] at running with the ball’. He would be ‘one of the best in the Premier League’ as well, the newly-appointed West Brom coach claimed back in 2021.
Leeds’ number eight might not have hit the same heights in his career as Traore or Saint-Maximin.
But, as Johannes Hoff Thorup’s Norwich team failed to lay a glove on the home side, Rothwell rolled back the years a little and produced some of the trademark barnstorming runs with which he once made his name in England’s second tier.
James credits Jayden Bogle and Brenden Aaronson
James, meanwhile, was pleased to see that Bogle, Aaronson and Rothwell connection click once again as Leeds overtook Yorkshire rivals Sheffield United at the top of the table.
“We’ve been talking every game, we kind of use it as a mini game. We’ve got to be solid down our side. We win down our side tonight and we win the game,” the £25 million signing from Man United adds.
“That is what me and Jayden think about. And, ultimately, it starts from Joe but obviously Brenden as well.
“That relationship, it’s really hard [for the other team] if you overload down that side. Ultimately, I want to get in behind. I want to try and get it into feet and get it in behind and they [Bogle, Aaronson and Rothwell] create that.
“When we are all ticking over, we are quite dominant down that right-hand side and that is something we will keep working on.”
Leeds will now face promotion rivals Burnley on Monday night. Daniel Farke is confident Manor Solomon will be fit to start again, the Israel international passing a late fitness test to feature against Norwich.
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