Jermaine Beckford and Michael Bridges both notice the same thing about Leeds United’s Ao Tanaka after outburst 

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Tuesday night’s win over Middlesbrough meant so much to Ao Tanaka that the Leeds United star crouched down onto The Riverside pitch and was reduced to tears.

The Japan star was helped to his feet by Josuha Guilavogui following the win, who had partnered Tanaka in midfield during injury time. A 1-0 win for Leeds, and the timing could not have been better.

Only a second win in seven games came alongside dropped points for Burnley and Sheffield United. A 0-0 draw for Burnley against Derby away from home while Chris Wilder’s side lost a second successive game.

Back on top of the Championship with five games to play, it all got a bit much for Tanaka. Daniel Farke also confirmed Tanaka was in tears in the dressing room, saying the emotion was down to exhaustion.

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Jermaine Beckford and Michael Bridges discuss Ao Tanaka

Nicknamed Tiger Tanaka by Farke after James Bond film ‘You Only Live Twice’, Tanaka will play his 50th game of the season for Leeds, Japan and Dusseldorf on Saturday when Leeds play host to Preston.

Of those 49, Tanaka has played 39 times for Leeds and five for Japan while featuring in four games for Dusseldorf before his move to Yorkshire. It is by far and away the most games he’s played in one season.

Beckford and Bridges discussed Tanaka on LUTV’s extra time after watching Leeds beat Boro. Tanaka has actually come in for some criticism from Farke of late, but was improved somewhat at Middlesbrough.

Beckford said: “Incredible. His first season in England, high-intensity situation. High-pressure situation. Massive football club. There are so many positions he has never been in before, he’s learning on the job.

“He’s learning at an incredible rate. At the end, he was just exhausted. On the floor, tears streaming down his face, same in the changing rooms but that’s what it means – they’re not robots, they’re people.”

Bridges continued: “It’s nice that Farke said about his tears in the changing room, it shows he cares. The distance he’s covered is phenomenal, the travel and to get the result – it just shows how much he cares.”

Ao Tanaka’s appearances by season in total throughout career

It has been a remarkable season for Tanaka, even if his form has dipped of late. But mistakes against Swansea and Luton will not deter just how incredible he has been this term, costing a bargain £3.4m.

Tanaka is running on empty at the moment and Farke may be well-advised to give him a rest at some point this week ahead of Saturday afternoon, where the Japan ace will be relied upon by Leeds again.

With Ethan Ampadu dropping into defence to cover Pascal Struijk and Joe Rothwell remains sidelined, Tanaka and Ilia Gruev pick themselves right now. Leeds need Tanaka to be fresh for the last five games.