The #LUFC Breakfast Debate (Tuesday 30th September) Unconfirmed reports that Dan James' season is over
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Good Morning. It's Tuesday 30th September, and here are the latest headlines from Elland Road...
Unconfirmed reports that Dan James' season is over
Unconfirmed reports emerged yesterday that Wales international Dan James may have suffered a devastating anterior cruciate ligament injury in training, which if true, could prematurely end his season. While the club has yet to release an official statement, the early suggestions are grim; such an injury would almost certainly rule James out for the remainder of the campaign, a cruel blow before it has truly begun.
For a player who contributed 12 goals and nine assists in just 2,600 minutes last season, expectations were understandably high. Supporters hoped James could finally translate his raw pace and work rate into consistent Premier League performances.
However, his step up to the top flight has proven far from seamless. With only 216 minutes on the pitch so far this season, statistical outlet WhoScored has handed him an underwhelming average rating of 6.05, ranking him a lowly 18th out of 21 in Leeds’ squad. For a player entering what should be his prime years at 27, the sharp contrast between Championship productivity and Premier League struggles has been difficult to ignore.
Should his injury fears be confirmed, both Leeds and James face a long road ahead. For the club, it means losing a player with genuine attacking threat and depth at a time when every fixture is pivotal. For James, it represents a cruel interruption in a career that seemed poised to take the next step. The coming days will provide clarity, but for now, Leeds fans can only wait anxiously for confirmation.
Longstaff - most inspired pieces of business in recent years
Sean Longstaff’s Leeds career is quickly turning into one of the most inspired pieces of business the club has done in recent years, with the exception of Raphinha. Signed for £12m (plus add ons) from Newcastle in the summer, the 27-year-old midfielder was viewed by some fans as underwhelming, with many questioning both his pedigree and whether he was the right fit for Daniel Farke’s system.
Yet six games in, Longstaff is not only silencing his critics but also emerging as a genuine leader in the heart of midfield. His performance against Bournemouth underlined everything he has brought to Leeds: energy, resilience, and a surprising creative spark. Nobody on the pitch bettered his 14 defensive actions, six tackles, or 10 duels won, and his seven key chances created was a gulf above anyone else, with the next best tally standing at just two.
Those numbers speak to a player not only disrupting opposition play but dictating his team’s forward momentum. It is little wonder, then, that his 7.08 Whoscored rating has propelled him to the top of the Leeds rankings. He has become the engine that makes Leeds tick, offering both stability and progression in equal measure.
For a player once dismissed by sections of the fanbase, his transformation into a lynchpin feels like vindication, and more importantly, a reminder that the right signing is not always the flashiest but the most effective. Confidence is growing, and with it, so is Longstaff’s influence.