Three winners and two losers from Leeds United international break as Daniel Farke sent clear form message
A look at which Leeds United players might have benefitted from the break - and who could be set back.
International football is done for the year and at Leeds United, focus is now solely on Premier League survival. Nine first-team players represented their countries over the past week or so, be it in crucial World Cup qualifiers or relatively meaningless friendlies.
All will now report back to Thorp Arch as preparations continue for Sunday’s Premier League meeting with in-form Aston Villa. And as those international stars head back to West Yorkshire, the YEP takes a look at some key winners and losers from the final break of 2025.
Daniel Farke - winner
The Leeds boss will have been desperate to see his players come through their international commitments unscathed and, barring any unseen issues, couldn’t have had it much better. There was a small scare when Gabriel Gudmundsson missed a Sweden training session last week but the left-back went on to play twice, suggesting any minor issue had been shaken off.
Even better, the almost ever-present left-back twice came off the bench for a combined 67 minutes and so enjoyed plenty of rest ahead of his first festive Premier League schedule. Only two senior outfielders played all 180 available minutes, those being Jaka Bijol and Ilia Gruev, with Ethan Ampadu and Ao Tanaka missing the second round of fixtures entirely.
Weekend opponents Aston Villa have welcomed four players back with fitness issues and Leeds know all too well how easily such international injuries can derail momentum. Of course, Farke will need to give the all-clear to those returnees ahead of Sunday but all looks to have gone pretty well.
Daniel James - winner
One international who did play a significant amount of football was James, whose two starts for Wales saw him rack up 128 minutes. More importantly, the winger showed exactly what he can do with an assist for Jordan James’ winner against Liechtenstein and a well-taken goal in Tuesday’s 7-1 thumping of North Macedonia.
James hasn’t been able to usurp Brenden Aaronson at right-wing since returning from an ankle injury last month and Farke suggested after the 3-0 defeat at Nottingham Forest that decision wasn’t purely fitness-related. And while the attacking threat is obviously there, Leeds’ Welsh winger is yet to register a goal or assist at club level.
Getting both during a crucial two-game break for Wales must have felt incredible for James and he’ll hope Farke can sense some momentum building. The Welshman will be eagerly awaiting that Aston Villa team sheet on Sunday.
Brenden Aaronson - loser
As much for the reasons above as anything else, Aaronson’s place in the starting line-up is under real threat and post-international break feels like an ideal time for Farke to change things. The American started in a not-so-friendly friendly win over Paraguay before coming off the bench for the final 16 minutes of a 5-1 thrashing of Uruguay, failing to contribute a goal or assist in either.
Furthermore, that win over Uruguay finished at around 2am UK time on Wednesday morning, after which Aaronson had to make the almost nine hour flight back to England. The 25-year-old is more-than durable enough to make Sunday’s Elland Road clash but with frustration growing at the American, coupled with James hitting form and returning earlier, Farke could take the opportunity and make that change.
Willy Gnonto - winner
As important as those returning from international duty without injury, Gnonto’s extra two-week break to build fitness should see him back in the matchday squad against Villa. The 22-year-old’s season barely got going before an ankle injury and hernia surgery kept him out from mid-September onwards, and even after a fortnight of full training Farke said he didn’t want to risk it at Forest.
Farke has not provided an update on Gnonto since then but one would imagine the Italian has enjoyed two weeks of uninterrupted training alongside the likes of Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Noah Okafor, building relationships and improving sharpness. Leeds could really do with his individual season kicking into gear quickly.
Ethan Ampadu - loser
Farke might have been happy to see Ampadu rested on Tuesday but it must have been painful for the midfielder having to watch his side play such a huge game from the sidelines. A late, and arguably undeserved, yellow card against Liechtenstein was enough to see the Leeds captain suspended and he admitted afterwards he felt ‘gutted’ to miss what ended up being a 7-1 rout.
Like all of his compatriots, Ampadu will largely be delighted Wales got the job done so emphatically but there will have been a tinge of sadness, especially given it was Wales’ most complete performance in a long time enjoyed without him. The 25-year-old will just have to make sure he’s on top form for Leeds right through to the crucial World Cup play-offs in March.