After losing to Poland in a penalty shootout, Leeds’ Welsh quartet’s hopes of competing in the summer’s EUROs were dashed in Cardiff.
For Rob Page’s team, Dan James will be hurting the most right now, although both Ethan Ampadu and Joe Rodon played 120 minutes, and Connor Roberts hobbled off with an injury.
Following the scoring of all nine of the opening penalty kicks by both sides, James missed the game-winning kick, which denied Wales a trip to the tournament in three months.
But because of the nature of the Championship, Leeds’ Welshman won’t have much time to recover from the setback because the Whites’ next game is a trip to Watford, where Deeney used to play. On Good Friday.
Daniel Farke’s Welsh team will need to be back on their game in the remaining eight games because Leeds cannot afford any mistakes given the high calibre of the promotion fight this season.
Deeney predicts whether Wales disappointment will impact Leeds promotion push
This morning, Deeney was questioned live on talkSPORT if Wales’ disappointment may have an impact on their club form by a Leeds fan.
In his thunderous response, he put Leeds supporters at rest by implying that they will all just want to return on the pitch as quickly as possible in order to forget about it.
He said: “No, I don’t think so. It is a completely different thing, when you go with the national team and I have been there when the boys come back, they have this kind of, ‘wow, that was good, now let’s get back to it.’
“I saw a post from Virgil van Dijk last night that said great to be with the national team, but let’s focus on Liverpool. It is two different switches completely and especially some of them will have been friendlies, obviously Wales wasn’t.
“But I think the boys at Leeds are on a great push and will know, especially someone like Dan James, if he’s not playing well, the quality of player in their team, he’ll fall back onto the bench. He’ll just want to get back to football as quickly as possible.”
James can use Wales heartache as Leeds motivation
James, by his own admission, has had the best season of his career at Leeds, therefore he can’t allow this to undermine his confidence at this critical juncture in the season.
James, who has so far led the league in goals scored and assists with seven, will surely have a significant impact on the final stretch, whether he starts or comes off the bench.
James can really utilise this heartbreaking sorrow as motivation going forward in order to steer clear of experiencing this kind of reaction this season.
What better way to forget about this week’s happenings than with a goal and victory over Watford on Friday? James might even be back in Leeds’ starting lineup. Willy Gnonto is doubtful due to an injury.
In a related article:
Leeds United ‘ready’ to make difficult contract decision as promotion rivals risk ‘big’ punishment
The most recent information as Leeds United gets ready to play again in the Championship
Daniel Farke will be ramping up preparations for Friday’s match at Vicarage Road against Watford as the international break draws to a close. Naturally, the time spent at Thorp Arch before the Easter weekend will be minimal for players who have been playing for their country, but Leeds United will still go into the double header with Hull City on Monday believing they can maintain their top spot.
We examine some of the prominent headlines doing the rounds today as attention returns to the Championship promotion race.
Dallas decision made?
The YEP said on Tuesday night that Stuart Dallas’s current contract is slated to expire this summer, therefore Leeds United is unlikely to extend it. Dallas suffered a femur fracture while playing for Leeds in a Premier League match against Manchester City, and he hasn’t made an appearance for the club in nearly two years.
Although he has a long way to go before returning to full fitness, Dallas expressed optimism that he will make progress towards his goal of returning to the pitch before the season ends during an appearance on television on Tuesday night.
Nevertheless, the Elland Road contract of the Northern Irishman expires at the end of the current campaign, and the club must make an extremely difficult decision. Dallas is still a fan favourite at Elland Road, therefore the club would have a very difficult time deciding whether to let him go.
Leicester’s ‘big’ punishment predicted
After “endangering” the Premier League, Kieran McGuire, a football financial expert, thinks Leicester City might receive a large points deduction. Along with being placed under a transfer embargo by the EFL, the Foxes are facing charges for allegedly breaking the Profit and Sustainability Rules of the Premier League.
