Leeds United star Daniel James opens up on Man United struggles and makes Swansea City admission

Daniel James admits he needs to recapture the sizzling form that made him such a big hit at Swansea City if he's to fulfil his potential at Leeds United, and admits he was guilty of playing it too 'safe' at Manchester United.

James moved to Leeds for £25m over the summer after falling out of favour towards the end of a largely mixed spell at Old Trafford.

Rightly or wrongly, James found himself bearing the brunt of criticism from fans, but still managed to clock up a total of 73 appearances, netting four goals.

James will face his former employers on Sunday, and is well aware of the perceptions that surround his time in Manchester, but insists there are plenty of positives to cling onto.

“I had a great time at Man United,” James told The Times. “Some people can talk of my time there as a failure but for me I played so many games, I learnt so much and it was a great experience with top players.”

Nevertheless, he admits that he struggled to play with the sort of freedom seen during his breakout season for the Swans, who sold James to the Red Devils for £15m back in 2019.

“I was coming away from who I was as a player and why I got bought in the first place,” he says. “I felt part way through I’d become safe. If you’re going to be safe you’re going to be out of the team.”

It was a series of stunning performances, often underpinned by searing pace and dazzling trickery, during a breakout season under Graham Potter that caught the eye of Old Trafford chiefs, but James never quite managed to make his mark on a side still coming to terms with the post-Ferguson era.

Such was the winger's impact under the current Brighton boss, Leeds initially came calling in January 2019 in one of the most infamous episodes in the Swans' modern