Leeds United desperately need someone to step up this season, and Joe Rodon thinks he knows who it could be.
Leeds United need a hero. The summer transfer window has given Daniel Farke a decent squad, but nobody to really step up and score the goals.
Perhaps Dominic Calvert-Lewin can be that player. But Leeds United fans are split over Calvert-Lewin and whether he has what it takes to score enough goals to keep Leeds in the Premier League.
Despite a lack of firepower, though, Farke finds his side in 12th place of the Premier League table after three games, with four points on the board, albeit without having scored from open play yet.
Up next is a game against Fulham and it’ll be a real indicator of how Leeds United might fare over the next weeks and months, with the January transfer window already looking like it can’t come quick enough for the Whites.
- READ MORE: Prominent journalist makes Jose Mourinho to Leeds United claim amid Daniel Farke ‘reservations’
Joe Rodon tips Ao Tanaka for big things at Leeds United this season
Speaking in a game of ‘fill the blank’ on the Premier League’s official YouTube channel, Joe Rodon was asked to fill in the blank of which Leeds United player will ‘produce the coldest moments’ in the 2025/26 season.
And the Welsh international said Ao Tanaka. Leeds United signed Tanaka from Fortuna Dusseldorf last summer, paying around £3million for the Japanese international midfielder who featured 43 times in the Championship, scoring five and assisting twice more.
From the very start, it was clear that Leeds signed a real gem in Tanaka, who could easily go on to become a very valuable asset for the 49ers, if he isn’t already.
The latest on Ao Tanaka’s injury at Leeds United
Tanaka has now missed the last two games for Leeds United with an MCL injury. His absence will certainly be missed, but it’s a chance for someone like Sean Longstaff to step in, and step up for the club.
It’s expected that Tanaka will only miss a few more weeks of action at Leeds United. But it’s a tricky injury and not one that can be rushed back from, so don’t expect to see Tanaka back before a few weeks have passed.
When back and fit though, he surely comes into the XI for Farke whose style of play really seemed to suit Tanaka’s own style last season.
He’s a great player to have in the transition from defence to attack, and his technical nature may even be suited to the Premier League more so than the Championship.
And Rodon’s comments show just how highly-rated the 27-year-old Tanaka is behind the scenes at Elland Road.
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