There will be a handful of players that might have surprised Daniel Farke this season in terms of just how good they have been, but one will surely top the German’s list.
Brenden Aaronson has put the fan backlash and doubts over his physicality behind him to score seven goals and lay on two assists. Largie Ramazani has taken to English football like a duck to water after his move.
Elsewhere, Jayden Bogle and Junior Firpo are producing numbers that Farke would surely have bitten a hand off for, at the start of the season. Joe Rothwell is proving some doubters wrong, according to Farke.
But there is one player that will have surprised the Leeds manager more than any other member of the Leeds squad and in his pre-match Blackburn press conference, Farke admits he has been left shocked.
Sam Byram continues to exceed expectation under Daniel Farke
Seven and a half years after leaving Leeds, Sam Byram returned to his boyhood club in the summer of 2023. A free agent, Byram had hoped to just return to train, little did he know he’d earn a new contract.
One Leeds fan even shouted at Byram in a pre-season clash against Hearts in 2023, “you’re only here because nobody else wants you”. Fast forward to Sunday night, and Byram clocked up his 20th outing.
Byram has started in every single one of Leeds’ last five league games, and 10 of the last 13. It has seen Byram earn the tag “Mr. Reliable” from Stuart Dallas, and Farke discussed Byram in his press conference.
Holding his pre-match Blackburn chat following the win over Derby, Farke explained that Byram had far exceeded his expectations and says that it will be crucial to keep the star fit to play against Blackburn.
“He’s delivering much more than I expected. But what can you do? Max Wober is out, Junior Firpo is out. Today we faced a side that are no.1 in terms of set-pieces, we needed his defensive qualities. We also have Isaac but he is more offensive-minded.
We needed Sam’s steel. He’s playing much more football than what we expected, didn’t think he would be capable to do this. His behaviour is so professioal and he works so hard on his recovery, he will be in the ice baths in te next 48 hours. We need his experience and maturity.
“I can’t tell you if he will be available on New Year’s Day, but we will do everything we can.”
Five Leeds United players will leave next summer, as things stand
And it might be in Farke’s best interests to keep hold of all five. Two of those are players on loan in the form of Joe Rothwell and Manor Solomon, with both starring in a Leeds shirt – the latter in recent weeks.
Then, there are three players in the senior side that will see their contracts end next summer. Junior Firpo will only sign a new deal if Leeds get promoted, Graeme Bailey told LeedsUnited.News earlier this season.
Josuha Guilavogui has been drafted in as midfield cover. While Guilavogui has become the only player in Leeds’ history to win his first eight games, chances are that he will not be offered a renewal next summer.
But for Byram, who can play either side of the defence or in the middle, a new deal is a must. He’s shown that he can play back to back games, he has huge versatility and is a brilliant man to provide cover.
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