‘Every time you get it’: Neil Warnock says he told Leeds star he would have 'loved' to have managed him

Leeds United fans are still trying to get over the heartache of failing to earn promotion to the Premier League.

The Championship might be richer and stronger because they have a club the size of Leeds competing in it.

But the Premier League is weaker, as a result, with Southampton securing a deserved 1-0 win in the Championship play-off final at Wembley on Sunday.

Before a ball was kicked. Everyone knew the key players from each side. Crysencio Summerville was the danger man for Leeds and Adam Armstrong was the main threat for Southampton.

Only one man turned up, with Summerville having to be subbed off after 70 minutes in what could now be his final game for the club.

During the game, Daniel Farke introduced Dan James into the action for the toothless and abject Wilfried Gnonto.

Neil Warnock claimed that the Italian star was ‘played out of the game’ by his counterpart, Ryan Fraser, as he told Sky Sports Football (26/05/24 at 5:50 pm).

But who would have thought that in a 25-odd-minute spell, James did more than Gnonto and Summerville combined, yet they started.

It’s no wonder that Warnock told the Welsh speedster that he would have ‘loved’ to have managed him.

It’s easy saying it in hindsight now, but Leeds fans will be probably wishing James did start because he was their only good player on the day.

Dan James impresses for Leeds United in play-off final

“What about Gnonto? I thought Fraser played him out of the game,” said Warnock.

“I said to him before the game, Dan James, you know as a manager, I would have loved to have had you in my team. I said every time you get it, you want to attack it.”

Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images

Dan James for Leeds United next season 

You feel James could become an even more important player for the team next season, especially given the players that could leave.

Many are certain and are expecting Summerville to depart and it wouldn’t be a surprise if Gnonto follows suit.

READ MORE: Troy Deeney accuses Leeds United player of hiding in stoppage-time of play-off final loss

Everyone remembers what happened at the start of the campaign, so it wouldn’t be a surprise if the same happens again.

Their possible exits would open the door for James to become a more regular starter next season and it’s an area of the pitch Farke needs to sort out pretty quickly.

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