Bielsa can make James a complete player, says Wales boss Page
ROB Page believes Daniel James could well become the “complete player” under Leeds United boss Marcelo Bielsa.
James has been on the radar at Elland Road for several years and came within a phone call of joining the club from Swansea City, only for the Welsh side to pull the plug at the 11th hour at the end of the January transfer window in 2019.
The winger would eventually go on to sign for Leeds’ bitter rivals Manchester United that summer, but laboured to really make his mark at Old Trafford despite a blistering start.
The 23-year-old subsequently saw his future at the club frequently called into question almost with every passing transfer window, with Leeds frequently mentioned as a possible suitor.
That speculation went into overdrive when the Red Devils secured a return for Cristiano Ronaldo this summer, a move which pushed James down the pecking order and provided the catalyst for a £25m move across the Pennines.
James missed Wales’ international friendly with Finland after leaving Rob Page’s camp to complete his move to Elland Road on deadline day, but Page insists he’s in contention for today’s World Cup qualifier with Belarus.
“He’s fine,” Wales boss Page said on Saturday.
“We’ve protected him a little bit because he hasn’t been on the pitch since the last game for Man United. He had a stressful couple of days with travelling and getting his medical done. Then flying him out later that evening.
“He’s trained [on Friday] and he looks really bright. Fully focused and ready for the game.”
It’s the start of a new chapter for James, who was brought up in Yorkshire as a youngster, and is joining a manager known for getting the very best out of his players.
Page even admits he’s already noticed James carrying something of a spring in his step on his return to camp.
“It’s a great club,” he added. “He’s going to a great club with a wellrespected manager, who in my opinion will get the best out of him. And he’s obviously going to be really excited about that prospect. It’s a four-year contract, so he can get his head down now and really enjoy his football.”
After what was perhaps a difficult spell at Manchester United, Page believes the intensity of the workload under Bielsa will take James up to the next level in terms of fitness, which he insists will be a huge benefit to Wales as they bid to qualify for their first World Cup since 1958.
“Everybody’s seen the ability DJ’s got. We’ve seen snippets of it at international level. He’s been first class for us. When you got to a team like Leeds with manager like Bielsa, who demands high intensity for 90 minutes, he will always have that ability if you get him extremely fit.
“We’re only going to benefit from it. To have someone of DJ’s ability, getting into the 80th minute and not have to worry about substitutions because he’s got that resilience now in him and the fitness to be able to sustain that for 90 minutes, then we’ll get the complete player.”
Page is certainly something of an authority on what goes on at Leeds, having already seen striker Tyler Roberts embark on a similarly pleasing period of development under the Argentine coach.
“I won’t go into details because that’s down to Leeds. We’re privy to some of the things that go on there. I think Tyler’s record over the last couple of years since he’s been there, we’ve seen a big improvement in his fitness levels and his physique.
“He [Bielsa] gets his players fit. They have to be fit to play the way he wants them to play. I think DJ will benefit from that as Tyler has.”