It is quite easy to make a case for four or five Leeds United players as the Championship Player of the Season, the most-obvious one being Welsh wizard Dan James.
The EFL nominated Dan James as one of three contenders to win the Championship Player of the Season award. James was picked alongside two players linked with Leeds, in Gustavo Hamer and James Trafford.
Surprisingly, Hamer was picked as the winner by The EFL despite Trafford’s incredible run of clean sheets in goal for Burnley and James’ influence in attack. Stuart Dallas says James has been Leeds best player.
Jayden Bogle and Ao Tanaka were included in the Championship Team of the Season with James but there was no place for the likes of Joe Rodon, Junior Firpo, Ethan Ampadu, Manor Solomon or Joel Piroe.
Ross McCormack picks his Championship Player of the Season
With Leeds promoted and on the verge of the Championship title if they can match Burnley’s result on the weekend – Leeds go to Plymouth, Burnley host Millwall – every Leeds player has showcased their form.
McCormack questioned why Firpo was not in the Team of the Season earlier this week. Now, the former Leeds captain says his Championship Player of the Season is Tanaka – ahead of Hamer and James.
In a post on his Instagram story, along with a picture of Tanaka’s no.22 worn shirt during the 4-0 win over Bristol City, McCormack said: “Rolls Royce this guy. Champ Player of the year for me.”
Fotmob’s top 10 Championship players with Ao Tanaka in seventh
This will change on the final day of the season with one game still to be played. But, Tanaka is currently deemed seventh-best in the Championship according to stats-led website FotMob with a rating of 7.42.
Hamer, who won the Championship Player of the Season award, is in fourth position while winger James failed to make the top 10. Manor Solomon is third and interestingly, Firpo is considered the league’s best.
| Name | Club | FotMob rating |
| Junior Firpo | Leeds | 7.54 |
| James Trafford | Burnley | 7.52 |
| Manor Solomon | Leeds | 7.47 |
| Gustavo Hamer | Sheffield United | 7.43 |
| Josh Brownhill | Burnley | 7.43 |
| Trai Hume | Sunderland | 7.42 |
| Ao Tanaka | Leeds | 7.42 |
| Josh Cullen | Burnley | 7.42 |
| Ethan Ampadu | Leeds | 7.40 |
| Michael Cooper | Sheffield United | 7.38 |
Tanaka will now get to taste Premier League football, but the jury remains out on Firpo’s future at Leeds in the coming weeks and months. His contract is due to expire at the end of June, while Solomon is on loan.
Receive a digest of our best Leeds content each week direct to your mailbox
