Leeds United hero James Milner closes in on significant Premier League milestone

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Leeds United academy graduate James Milner is less of a hero for his exploits at Elland Road and more so what he has gone on to be in the Premier League.

James Milner’s return to Leeds United will be an emotional one — as it always is — later this season, but the Brighton & Hove Albion midfielder continues to break records in the Premier League.

Milner potentially finishing his career at Leeds seems extremely unlikely now, given that he turns 40 this season after signing another one-year contract with Brighton over the summer.

The 39-year-old is seven years and one month older than his manager, Fabian Hurzeler. He is now into his 24th consecutive Premier League season, but the last two did not include playing against Leeds.

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James Milner is within 10 of Gareth Barry’s all-time PL appearances

Later this season, Brighton playing Leeds will mark Milner returning with Georginio Rutter. They are excited for that fact, as the Brighton duo admit to loving Elland Road’s atmosphere.

Milner and Rutter have changed shirt numbers, with Rutter taking No.10 and Milner paying homage to his former teammate Diogo Jota as No.20. With Liverpool, Milner is a true icon and legendary figure.

Milner has been part of records this season with Brighton, and he remains the second-youngest scorer in Premier League history behind James Vaughan. He only appeared 54 times for Leeds as a teenager, but five memorable goals were notched in that time.

Milner scored in back-to-back games for Leeds against Sunderland and Chelsea at the age of 16, with his Premier League career then going on to be the stuff of legend since for Man City, Liverpool, Newcastle United, Aston Villa, and now Brighton.

Having come off the bench against Wolverhampton Wanderers on Saturday, and having made five Premier League appearances so far this season, Milner is now just 10 games behind Gareth Barry’s all-time appearance record.

It’s fair to say that Milner could and should break Premier League appearance records this season. He could be within seven of it if he plays a part in the upcoming game against Leeds and the Newcastle and Man United games.

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The Premier League all-time appearance makers

Milner’s longevity is absolutely remarkable and he is a boyhood Leeds fan, which should fill Leeds fans with pride at what he is doing currently.

More famous moments in his career have come elsewhere, but he is a 61-cap England international from Horsforth. Milner was also memorable with Leeds, given his extraordinary talent at such a young age.

It’s just a shame it was so short lived and Milner only made 48 of those in the white, yellow, and blue of the club he loved growing up