Expert highlights one ‘absolutely sensational’ individual’s importance to Leeds United, it’s not Dan James or Ao Tanaka

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Leeds United and Daniel Farke have had two seasons of more than 90 points in the Championship, securing promotion back to the Premier League at the second time of asking.

The Whites are still in the title hunt but sealed the deal on Easter Monday after a perfect Championship weekend again. Scoring first has been key to their success and they did so against Stoke City to win 6-0 after five first-half goals.

Position	Team	Played MP	Won W	Drawn D	Lost L	For GF	Against GA	Diff GD	Points Pts
1	LeedsLeeds	44	27	13	4	89	29	60	94
2	BurnleyBurnley	44	26	16	2	61	15	46	94
3	Sheff UtdSheffield Utd	44	27	7	10	60	35	25	86
4	SunderlandSunderland	44	21	13	10	58	41	17	76
5	Bristol CityBristol City	44	17	16	11	57	49	8	67
6	CoventryCoventry	44	19	9	16	62	57	5	66

Should they get to 100 points, that would mean one of the best seasons ever for a Championship side for Leeds or Burnley. Leeds have shown incredible resilience and proved the doubters wrong but can now play with freedom and express themselves on the pitch for two games.

Compared to this time last year, it has been an incredible end to the campaign. Leeds are unbeaten in eight and have won the last four, with experts backing them to end the season ‘miles better’ than Burnley and win the title.

• READ MORE: These 5 Leeds United players need to be offloaded as Daniel Farke’s side head for the Premier League

Leeds United full-back Jayden Bogle praised by EFL expert

Junior Firpo ought to have his contract extended but both he and Jayden Bogle have been absolutely crucial to the sides’ success in ensuring they aren’t a Championship club in 2025/26 for a third year in a row.

Bogle has collected particular praise for his role in the automatic promotion run-in. EFL experts Ali Maxwell and George Elek of the Not The Top 20 podcast have had their say on that.

Elek said: “I think there are so many players you can point out. And, at different times, we’ve spoken about Dan James, we’ve spoken about Joel Piroe, and Ao Tanaka.

“I think Jayden Bogle in the run-in has been absolutely sensational — and all season, to be fair. He’s such an unbelievably important attacking outlet for them.”

He continued: “They already have their attacking and aggressive wide players but Bogle is always getting down to the byline on the right-hand side. His movement in the box when Firpo or Solomon are down the left in getting him goals in key moments.

“A really good one-on-one defender as well — and played a big part in their defensive record. I still think it’s an amazing achievement from Daniel Farke to have lost [Crysencio] Summerville and to have lost [Georginio] Rutter and to have taken this team further.”

Elek believes the balance of the team is better for having Bogle down one flank, replacing Archie Gray. He added: “They are a better team than this time last year, there is no denying that.”

• READ MORE: Leeds United’s ‘special talent’ took a big step vs Stoke City, now the club must avoid selling and develop him in the right way

How Leeds United survive and their approach to recruitment in the Premier League

The gap to the Premier League is widening, as detailed by Roy Keane’s warning to Leeds. Leeds will have to be smart and savvy in the market this summer, unlike Burnley who are tied into expensive obligations.

The money for promotion is lucrative but it does not guarantee success, albeit Leeds have the skeleton of a Premier League team already, such has been their dominance this season between both boxes.

Leeds have some of the best players in the Championship, including Bogle, but there is no room for sentimentality with some players or in retaining the loanees if they are deemed as not good enough to make the step up. Joe Rothwell is unlikely to be signed permanently in the Premier League, for example.

Throughout the side, they will require players of serious physicality — as has become the blueprint for every Premier League side lately to survive. Tall, mobile, ground eating midfielders and full-backs, who can be destructive players out of possession, should be the go-to for Leeds now, 

The strategy is obvious as to what they should emulate. Nottingham Forest and Brentford have adopted similar recruitment policies regarding the spine of the team, which is what promotion teams need to prioritise.