Fewer touches than Illan: "Headless" 8-pass LUFC dud once again failed Marsch v Saints - opinion

Since making a £25m move to Leeds United last August, it would seem fair to say that Daniel James has not enjoyed the best form of his career during his seven months at Elland Road.

Indeed, over his 29 Premier League appearances this season, the £16.2m-rated winger has scored four goals, registered three assists and missed seven big chances for the Whites, hitting the target with an average of 0.6 shots per game.

These returns have seen the £52k-per-week forward average a rather disappointing SofaScore match rating of 6.72, ranking him as Leeds’ joint 13th-worst performer in the top flight.

Unfortunately for James, this record did not improve against Southampton on Saturday afternoon, with the Wales international once again failing to make any kind of impression after being deployed through the middle of Jesse Marsch’s attack.

Indeed, over the course of his 59 minutes on the pitch, the former Manchester United attacker enjoyed just 26 touches of the ball, 18 fewer than Illan Meslier between the sticks; completed just eight of his 13 passes, the lowest of any starting outfielder from either team; and lost possession on 13 occasions, meaning he gave the ball away with every other touch.

Furthermore, the 24-year-old also lost all three of his duels, failed to find his man with either of his two attempted crosses and hit the target with just one shot. These returns saw the attacker earn a disappointing SofaScore match rating of 6.4, ranking him as Leeds’ joint-second worst performer on the day.

Leeds Live‘s Beren Cross also appeared less than impressed with the forward, awarding him a six in his own player ratings, stating of the Welshman’s display: “Ran the channels and, with the space Leeds had in the first half, James had