Joel Piroe names the three clubs Leeds United ‘should look at’ to inspire Premier League success

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Daniel Farke knows that Leeds United will have to ‘adapt’ to survive in the Premier League next season.

The German has certainly done his homework.

The struggles of Southampton, Leicester City and Ipswich Town, plus Luton, Burnley and Sheffield United the year before, means each of the last six newly-promoted teams are destined to suffer an immediate return to the Championship.

How do Leeds United avoid such a fate?

Well, by being a little more defensive, a little more physical, but also by sticking to the principles which underpinned their potentially title-winning campaign.

Daniel Farke knows Leeds have a tough task ahead of them. But, while recent history paints a rather ominous omen, star striker Joel Piroe is keen to remind everyone that there are a few success stories.

Joel Piroe wants Leeds United to emulate Premier League success stories

Only three years after beating Huddersfield Town in the play-off final, Nottingham Forest are on the verge of swapping the Championship for the Champions League. Bournemouth and Fulham – promoted together in 2022 – also went into the weekend in the top-half of the table.

“You never know exactly how it will go,” Piroe tells ESPN. “I want to go to the Premier League with Leeds. Hopefully, we can do as well as Fulham, Nottingham Forest and Bournemouth a few years ago.

“They are the teams we should look at who have made the transition from the Championship to the Premier League well.”

Leeds largely had four-goal Joel to thank as the 6-0 Easter Monday drubbing of Stoke City secured a return to the biggest stage.

Piroe is the first-ever Leeds player to score four goals in a single half of football. Move over Mark Viduka. With 19, the £10 million signing from Swansea City is closing in on the Golden Boot while also achieving his pre-season ambition.

“I’ve said from the start that I want to score 20 goals this season. I can see that I’m now one step closer to reaching that personal goal,” Piroe beams.

“If I can also take the Golden Boot with me at that moment, I’ll be more than happy to take it. That’s ultimately what you do it for. The team prizes are fantastic but, if you can also take an individual prize, that’s a bonus.

“[Playing in the Premier League] something I’ve worked really hard towards over the past four years. It’s fantastic that it can now happen like this. A boyhood dream come true.

“But we also know ourselves, we are first with the same number of points. We know that Burnley will not catch us on goal difference in the last two games. So if we win twice [against Bristol City and Plymouth Argyle] we can certainly enjoy a championship party.

“I think that is just a bit more fun than just having a promotion party!”

The jubilant scenes at the gates of Elland Road, meanwhile, just made it all worth it as far as Piroe is concerned.

““A lot of people were waiting outside. I felt like more people were just coming. It was absolutely amazing to see the relief that brought them,” the striker adds. “You could see that they had been longing for it for a long time.

“What I heard myself was that the last time Leeds were promoted was during the corona period. They couldn’t really celebrate then. It must have been a double relief for them too.”