Leeds United may have preserved their unbeaten start to the new Premier League season, but not every player left Elland Road with his reputation enhanced.

The Whites were forced to settle for a 1-1 draw against Brentford on Sunday after Kevin Schade gave the visitors a first-half lead. Dominic Calvert-Lewin eventually came to Leeds’ rescue with a late equaliser, sparing Daniel Farke’s side from what could have been a frustrating defeat on home soil.

However, the result has not stopped questions being raised over one Leeds attacker following another underwhelming Premier League contribution.

Daniel James was introduced from the bench for the final 22 minutes, with Farke hoping the Welshman’s pace could exploit the spaces appearing as Brentford began to tire.

Instead, his performance left plenty to be desired.

James had opportunities to influence the contest but struggled to turn his trademark acceleration into meaningful attacking production. He lost possession five times during his short appearance, while none of his four attempts found the target.

Even more concerning for Leeds was his lack of creativity. James produced no key passes, registered an expected assist figure of only 0.01 and failed to complete either of his attempted crosses.

Those numbers become particularly frustrating when viewed against the circumstances of the game.

Brentford were increasingly vulnerable as Leeds pushed for an equaliser, creating precisely the kind of open match situation in which James’ pace should have been dangerous.

Yet the winger repeatedly failed to make the most of promising positions.

One late attack summed up the frustration. With teammates arriving in the box, James opted to take on a low shot that was comfortably blocked rather than finding a teammate in a potentially more threatening position.

While Lukas Nmecha made a far greater impact after coming on, producing the excellent touch and delivery that ultimately allowed Calvert-Lewin to rescue a point, James struggled to leave a similar mark.

And this is where the bigger concern for Farke emerges.

James’ recent Premier League record offers little evidence that his end product is improving.

Despite finding the net against Nottingham Forest in the League Cup earlier in the week, the 28-year-old has now gone 20 Premier League appearances without registering either a goal or an assist, dating back to the beginning of last season.

His pace remains one of his biggest weapons, and there is no question that he can stretch opposing defences when given room to run.

But at Premier League level, speed alone is not enough.

Leeds need attacking players capable of turning promising situations into goals, assists and genuine chances. With the club attempting to establish themselves comfortably in the top flight, Farke cannot afford to carry players who repeatedly fail to deliver in the final third.

That makes the timing particularly significant.

The summer transfer window is approaching its conclusion, leaving Leeds with very little time to make major decisions.

The club must now decide whether James still has a meaningful role in Farke’s plans or whether this is the moment to explore the possibility of a transfer.

A sale could potentially provide Leeds with funds and squad space to pursue another wide attacker, while a loan could offer James an opportunity to rebuild his confidence and rediscover the form that made him such an exciting player earlier in his career.

There has already been speculation linking Leeds with Chelsea winger Mykhailo Mudryk, adding another layer to the situation.

Whether that interest develops into something concrete remains to be seen, but the underlying issue is clear: Leeds need greater attacking consistency.

Farke’s side have already shown resilience by recovering from losing positions, and Calvert-Lewin’s late goal ensured the unbeaten run remained intact.

But if Leeds want to turn that unbeaten start into a successful Premier League campaign, they will need more from players operating in the wide areas.

James now faces a crucial period.

His speed can still make him a valuable weapon, but performances such as the one against Brentford will inevitably increase the pressure on his position within the squad.

With the transfer deadline rapidly approaching, Leeds may soon have to make a difficult call — continue trusting James to rediscover his best form, or use the final days of the window to find an alternative.

For Farke, it could become one of the most important decisions of the final stages of Leeds’ summer business.