Whilst Leeds United’s recent history has often seen them flirt with promotion up to the Premier League, there was once a time at Elland Road where the Whites were top-flight regulars and succeeding at that.
The 1999/2000 season would see then Leeds boss David O’Leary guide his team to an unbelievable third place finish in England’s elite division, with multiple finishes in and around this position becoming commonplace soon after courtesy of Mark Viduka and Co regularly terrorising defences.
Viduka wasn’t the only Australian menace during this top period in Leeds’ Premier League stay, however, with Harry Kewell also regularly popping up with strikes down the left wing to complement the magic of the clinical centre-forward.
Harry Kewell's heroics at Leeds
The Sydney-born winger and the Melbourne-based striker would cause top-flight defenders all sorts of bother when donning Leeds white together, with Viduka going on to boast a sensational 72 goals and 17 assists from 166 appearances.
Kewell would go on to make a heftier 240 appearances for the West Yorkshire Titans, and whilst his goal haul sat at a lower total of 68, his bumper record of 28 assists from down the left flank would make him a firm fan’s favourite whenever he strutted his stuff.
That made his subsequent move to Liverpool in 2003 sting, considering Kewell was beloved at Elland Road for electric goals like this one hammered home versus Aston Villa, with the 58-time Australia international often utilising his sublime left foot.
Whilst Farke’s current crop will want to make a name for themselves away from the club’s illustrious past, it could be said regardless that the German has his own version of Kewell in 2025.
Leeds' modern-day Harry Kewell is driving them to promotion
Much like Kewell before him, this Whites superstar is a regular for his international side too, with a goal even coming his way during the recent break from Championship action.
Indeed, Daniel James fired home Wales’ opener against Kazakhstan to gift Craig Bellamy a 3-1 win in the Red Dragons hot seat, continuing his fine campaign for both club and country.
The ex-Manchester United forward has collected a sizeable ten goals and nine assists for himself in the second tier this season, with the Welshman – much like Kewell – becoming known for his entertaining, speedy displays down his trusty right flank.
Off the back of his ability to open up a defence in a moment’s notice either through devastating pace or via a decisive goal, the 27-year-old has managed to cement himself as a regular, with 27 goals and 21 assists now next to his name from 119 total clashes.
To be considered in a similar bracket to Kewell even more, it will be up to James to confidently provide goals and assists for his side if they make the leap up to the Premier League, having struggled at the higher level before.
The Whites number seven has been burnt by the allure of the top-flight in the past with a switch to Manchester United early into his playing days not working, despite former Red Devils boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer once heralding James as “exceptional.”
24/25
Championship
32
10
9
23/24
Championship
43
13
7
22/23
Premier League
4
0
0
21/22
Premier League
32
4
4
He will want to live up to Solskjaer’s glowing appraisal by finally proving himself as a worthy Premier League talent, with the Welshman undoubtedly a force to be reckoned with in the second tier.
Kewell was also a joy to watch before souring his long-term Leeds legacy when Anfield came calling, with James unlikely to want to move away anytime soon, knowing the grass is greener for him situated at Elland Road.
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