In from the cold and now he's hot stuff

THIS time last year, Dan James was on loan at Fulham, struggling to nail down a starting berth and probably wondering where his career was going.

- Chris Dunlavy

Shortly before the end of the transfer window, the Welsh international had been informed by Leeds his services were no longer required.

Desperate to free up funds for new signings and stocked with an abundance of wingers, the Whites initially touted James around for £20m, only to capitulate and permit a loan when offers failed to materialise.

Nevertheless, the general consensus was that James the club's second-biggest signing of all time - was finished at Elland Road.

All of which makes the 26-year-old's current renaissance in West Yorkshire all the more startling.

Persuaded to stay by new manager Daniel Farke at a pre-season meeting, James has gradually established himself as a key member of the Championship's most prolific attacking quartet.

His opener in last weekend's 2-0 victory at Blackburn was the winger's third goal in as many games and his seventh in the last 13 matches. Throw in four assists, and James is proving every bit as potent as Crysencio Summerville, Joel Piroe, and Georginio Rutter.

"The four of them are electric," said former Tottenham defender Michael Dawson recently. "They are unplayable at times. They create chances like you won't believe."