Leeds United voting intention revealed as goal-laden summer signing candidates just miss out

Leeds' Premier League season has just three games left, starting with Monday night's trip to Tottenham Hotspur. By the time Leeds kick off in the capital they may already be mathematically safe from relegation, depending on the result of Arsenal's clash with West Ham on Sunday. After that Leeds host Brighton and then travel to the Hammers on the final day of the campaign. With 43 points to their name already, Daniel Farke's squad can consider it a good season and completing the task of staying up will ratify that feeling.

"We're obviously almost at our goal," said James Justin, who has started every single league game since the turn of the year.

"It might be by Sunday, we might know our fate, and that was always the goal, to stay in the Premier League this season. And 43 points is a good tally for a newly-promoted side as well. Last few seasons it's been really difficult for the promoted sides to get on well in the Premier League. So we've shown we've got a top squad and top coaching staff, top people around the club, and it's where the club deserves to be as well. At the end of the day, they had no business being in the Championship for so long. So yeah, we're happy we're back."

Justin, who played a role in helping to keep Leeds in the second tier when he and Leicester City took one of the automatic promotion slots in 2024, experienced first-hand how difficult it had become for newly-promoted sides in the top flight. Last season he and the Foxes experienced relegation, along with Ipswich Town and Southampton. Following the drop back into the second tier he agreed a move to Elland Road and another crack at trying to stick in the Premier League. The way the club was operating in the transfer window gave him faith that it was going to be a good decision.

"Everyone can see clearly that we've recruited a certain way, with the experience that we've brought in and [players] playing in the highest leagues and the age range, we brought in a lot of good guys as well," he said. "So I was quite confident that we would compete well in the Premier League for sure. You never really know going into a season or joining a new club how it's really going to be until we get there. But as soon as I got here and the first few weeks were done, I was content with the choice."

The versatile defender, who has played on the right, left and in the centre of Farke's back line, is well placed to comment on what has made Leeds different to the previous six sides who earned promotion.

"I feel like we've been competitive in almost every match, bar, I don't know, maybe three this season," he said. "And everyone can see that the Premier League has been so tight this season, whereas obviously the newly promoted sides, the last six have come straight back down. But I feel like we play like men, we're a lot of people in their 'prime' age. We're fit and we work hard in training so that when it comes to match day, we can keep on going, keep on going, keep on going. And the coaching staff and the physios are really big on that. Fitness and availability also plays a huge role in survival."

Justin's contribution to Leeds being so competitive has largely come through his defensive efforts, but he's continued a career-long tradition of popping up with important goals. He got one in the FA Cup to help Leeds progress past Derby County, scored Leeds' only goal in the 1-1 draw at Everton and then threw himself into the air to produce a bicycle kick against Wolves. That one will undoubtedly be the most memorable for fans but Justin himself doesn't really rate it above ones he's scored previously for Leicester, like a swerving volley off the post at Arsenal or a dipping, curling 30-yarder at Cardiff City.

"The only reason the bicycle kick doesn't make it into the like [top three], I mean it's cool, it's a bicycle kick, but it was only like six yards out," he said. The YEP asks how far out it would need to be and he replies '10 yards.' The YEP points out that he nutmegged the keeper and he responds 'but I didn't mean to. It was just don't make a fool of myself."

"If it was like six yards out and went like high into the goal, maybe it would crack the top three," he added. "If it was 10 yards out it would be top one but maybe I'll get that chance in future. When I play in certain positions, whether it be centre-back or wing-back, which are very different, I try and be there for easy goals, really. And it's a big pet peeve of mine, forwards not scoring easy goals, Just being there you could score like two or three a season, which adds to your tally. Obviously they don't always come that way, and you've got to show your quality at other moments. I feel like I've got a knack in the box, but my first job is defending obviously."

There have been some screamers from Leeds this season, inside and outside the box. One player in particular is compiling his own Goal of the Season shortlist - midfielder Anton Stach.

"Yeah, it's just any of Anton's really, to be honest," said Justin. "And Dom's away at Sunderland, that was a good one. Ao's at home to Chelsea. That was a good strike. Longy scored a couple, the one at home to Bournemouth was a good strike. But Anton's have just been special. In shooting drills and things like that, I could see it from a month after I joined. I was like 'wow, his ball striking is just incredible.' And, yeah, he's scored a few good goals this season. Hopefully he can score a few good goals next season, too."

Like Stach, Justin was one of the new recruits last summer as Leeds revamped Farke's squad completely. Among the new boys can be found some of Farke's key players. Anton Stach has been a chance creation machine, Dominic Calvert-Lewin has scored vital goals and led the line and Noah Okafor's recent run of end product has helped Leeds pick up the wins they need to stay ahead of the drop zone.

The competition for the various end-of-season awards will be fierce and the votes are already in for what is arguably the most coveted prize - the Players' Player award. Previous winners have included Stuart Dallas and Ao Tanaka. It's the one voted for by their peers and the respect of the dressing room means a lot to individuals. Justin had a few candidates in mind when making his pick but when he considered a more holistic selection process he happily settled on midfielder Ethan Ampadu.

"I think Anton was one and obviously Dom as well," he told the YEP. "They were close. But I think Ethan's consistency throughout the season has just been top and obviously behind the scenes, you guys only see him for 90 minutes on the weekend, but behind the scenes, he's been big for us. I just feel like he's been a consistent player for us this season, really important in the dressing room, as well as on the pitch. Obviously, he's produced many top games, kept a level throughout the season, he's definitely taken the jump from the Championship to the Premier League in his stride and shown he's a good quality Premier League midfielder."