Absence is said to make the heart grow fonder. Old acquaintances left out of sight tend to remain out of mind. Being 170 miles away from the flying shrapnel of Leeds United’s relegation blast cannot be too bad for a reputation either.
Daniel James was hardly someone supporters were calling for in their hours of desperate need down the home stretch of last season, but in the Championship, he may just get a fresh start. A goal for Wales earlier this month, before the darkness of a dire evening closed in, was a sharp reminder for Leeds fans of an attacker many would have forgotten about in 2023.
Across 40 appearances since his £25m arrival, James had not done enough to provoke any great uproar when news of his Fulham loan emerged. At the time, there were concerns when it transpired Leeds had effectively pushed out their 24-year-old full international to make room for an 18-year-old from the Swiss Super League.
