By Paul Jones
Dan James deserves a move back to the Premier League this summer, his Wales boss Rob Page has insisted.
James spent last season on loan at Fulham, but went down with Leeds United’s sinking ship as he returned to the relegated club once the campaign was over.
The 25-year-old former Manchester United winger moved to Leeds for £25m two years ago, but was loaned to Fulham as former Leeds manager Jesse Marsch reckoned he could do without the 43-times capped Welsh international.
“I do think DJ is a Premier League player and I think he could easily play in the Premier League again,” said Page.
“If I was a Premier League manager and I found out he was available, personally, I’d take him.
“I’m bound to say that because I’m his Welsh manager, but for me he always poses a threat. He still has things to work on, but with the pace he’s got it is a brave team that plays a high line against him.”
Dan James is back in the Championship and facing uncertain future at managerless Leeds after Fulham loan. A summer move not ruled out and 🏴 boss Rob Page wants James to stay in top flight.
Page 🗣 “I do think DJ is a Premier League player and he could easily play there again.” pic.twitter.com/HWpaIP5461
— Phil Blanche 🏴 (@philblanche) June 10, 2023
Leeds, who are without a manager after the tragi-comic doomed mini-series of Sam Allardyce, are keen to hold onto James, who was extremely effective in the Championship with Swansea City.
It was his form there that earned him a dream £15m move to Old Trafford four years ago.
He was bounced on to Leeds and then Fulham and although he was not a regular starter under Marco Silva, he still managed to make 20 appearances in the Premier League as Fulham finished 10th.
James looks certain to be picked by Page for Wales’ upcoming Euro qualifiers at home to Armenia next Friday and in Turkey three days later, but in a different role to the one that saw him make little impact at the World Cup.
FULL-TIME Everton 1-3 Fulham
Fulham pick up their first #PL win in six matches thanks to goals from Harrison Reed, Harry Wilson and Dan James
#EVEFUL pic.twitter.com/g6FTHOFdvP— Premier League (@premierleague) April 15, 2023
Page added: “It was a frustrating few months for him when I played him at centre forward with Gareth (Bale). Now, we’ve changed and he is back out in his natural position
“He likes playing wide left and the way we play now suits us because he gives us the width on the left.
“He’s that option in behind and when you’ve got a tool like that in your armoury, it really is effective. Even at the top level in the Premier League, and at international level, he poses a threat.”
Rob Page is hardly an impartial observer and regularly omits Dan from his selections. As a Leeds United fan I actually like most of his qualities but see him as an underachiever at Manchester United Leeds United and Fulham. At 25 years old we are seeing too little of that ability to outrun opponents and provide an end product or just a significant threat. He needs to play more and improve which may be unattainable as an impact substitute from the bench.