Daniel James targets injury-free pre-season after disrupted Leeds United campaign | OneFootball

Daniel James is aiming to start Leeds United’s pre-season strongly after an injury-hit 2025/26, having finished the campaign fit and available.

According to yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk, the winger missed 18 games for club and country due to separate issues, including a hamstring tendon problem that kept him out for two months and a spring groin strain that sidelined him for three weeks.

He returned to feature in each of Leeds’ final four league matches and now heads into Wales duty for friendlies against Ghana and Romania this week. With Wales not at the World Cup, the games serve as valuable fitness builders.

James said he feels much sharper on this camp, having been available for a while and taken minutes late in the season, and he wants to enter pre-season as fit as possible after previous summers were hampered by niggles.

Leeds achieved their primary objective of survival, finishing 14th on 47 points and securing safety with three matches to spare. An eventful summer is planned, with recruitment and stadium development on the agenda, plus a pre-season tour of the USA and a Dublin meeting with Manchester United.

Reflecting on the year, James described it as a brilliant season for the club, saying the aim now is to push on and become established in the Premier League. For Wales, missing the World Cup was a disappointment, but he said it will fuel their next outings.

Source: yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk