Neil Warnock highlights Leeds United star he ‘would have loved’ to manage, warns Daniel Farke not to restrict him

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Leeds United are back on track after a narrow win over Middlesbrough, and one player has earned the adoration of Neil Warnock.

Going into the game, Leeds had won just one in six, and appeared to be throwing away their chance at securing the Championship title.

However, Daniel Farke’s men clearly had a point to prove at the Riverside, eager to eradicate that idea that Leeds were falling apart once more.

A goal from Dan James was enough to claim the three points against a Middlesbrough side that threw everything at the Whites, and his effort on the night earned him a solid 10/10 in our Leeds United player ratings.

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Neil Warnock assesses title credentials of Burnley, Leeds United, and Sheffield United

Speaking on the Sky Sports coverage of the game between Middlesbrough and Leeds, a man who knows a lot about both teams, Neil Warnock, had plenty to say about the matchwinner Dan James, too.

Before the game, reflecting on the recent struggles at Leeds, Warnock suggested Farke might be overthinking things, which could be impacting James’ performances.

He said: “When you come to this stage as a season, if you’re not careful you start thinking about all the things you’re not doing right and forget about what the team is good at… you have to remind them how good they are.

“Players like Dan James, I would have loved to have him when I was a manager, and now they need to tell him how good he is and let him show it.”

It didn’t take long for Warnock’s comments to come good, with James slotting home for Leeds after just two minutes of the game.

As expected, then, after the game, Warnock lavished even more praise on James, suggesting he might just be the best player in the Championship this year.

He added: “Everything about his game tonight… he’s so determined… look at the desire he shows to get in there [for the goal]. I think he’s the man of the season, he deserves to be in the Premier League.”

• READ MORE: EFL expert accuses Leeds United star of ‘going missing’ ahead of vital Middlesbrough clash

Championship title race feels impossible to predict

It’s been an enthralling season so far, and with five games to go, it’s anyone’s guess as to which way this title race will go, with all three sides trading places game by game.

A supercomputer may say Burnley will claim the prize, with Leeds following them up, but that prediction now looks out of date already after the latest swing of results.

Leeds are now back on top, while Sheffield United have slipped up yet again with defeat to Millwall and Burnley were held by Derby.

One thing’s for sure, though, as Warnock said, “Whoever doesn’t go up [automatically], they’re going to have all the pressure on them in the play-offs.”