The heat is on and the pressure is at it’s highest right now as Leeds United prepare for a tricky trip to Luton Town on Saturday afternoon, with their promotion charge faltering.
Daniel Farke’s side failed to win again on Saturday and it is now just one win in five games, six points from a possible 15. In the same run of games, Sheffield United and Burnley have both amassed a total of 13.
That has seen Leeds’ five-point lead at the top wiped out, now two points behind Sheffield United and level with third-placed Burnley. Leeds need a win at Luton and they need their big players to step up.
There are a number of Leeds players who could be in line for the Championship Player of the Season award. Joe Rodon, Ao Tanaka and Junior Firpo have been excellent – but Stuart Dallas has picked his best.
Stuart Dallas picks Leeds United’s best player of the season so far
With seven games to go, Farke’s Leeds find themselves requiring a mid-nineties total in terms of points if they are to secure automatic promotion. Already, Sheffield United have clocked up 83 points this term.
If Leeds are to reach such a total, they will need Dan James to get back to his best. The Welshman has dipped in form in recent weeks, but Dallas told the YEP that James has been Leeds’ best player so far.
“You look at Dan James as well, who’s not just a young kid anymore, he’s been probably their best player this year. I know he’s quiet, he does try to do his talking on the pitch, and that’s okay in that kind of way.”
Dan James’ numbers for Leeds United compared to teammates
James’ 19 goals and assists make him one of the Championship’s most-lethal attackers, despite missing six games at the start of the campaign with a hamstring injury, between August and October.
With seven games left and hopefully three less than last season if Leeds avoid the play-offs, James is only two goals and assists behind last season’s total. In terms of minutes, he’s Leeds’ third-best this season.
Leeds’ attackers in the Championship this season:
| Player | Games | Minutes | Goals | Assists | Minutes per G+A |
| Joel Piroe | 39 | 2538 | 15 | 6 | 120.9 |
| Largie Ramazani | 26 | 739 | 4 | 2 | 123.2 |
| Dan James | 34 | 2443 | 10 | 9 | 128.6 |
| Manor Solomon | 32 | 2005 | 7 | 7 | 143.2 |
| Wilfried Gnonto | 36 | 1806 | 6 | 5 | 164.2 |
| Junior Firpo | 26 | 2117 | 3 | 9 | 176.4 |
| Mateo Joseph | 37 | 1266 | 3 | 3 | 211.0 |
| Brenden Aaronson | 39 | 3051 | 9 | 2 | 277.4 |
James has been off his best in the last few weeks but so have the entire squad. Hopefully, Saturday will see that revert to type and The Whites secure a comfortable win – something tells us, it won’t be so easy.
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