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How Leeds United's very own Max Dowman could take Harry Wilson's place

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Published Oct 5, 2026, 8:10 AM GMT+1

Daniel is an experienced football writer and editor with more than a decade of experience covering the professional game, specialising in the Championship, Football League and Scottish football, alongside in-depth coverage of Norwich City, Celtic and Rangers.

A journalist since 2015, Daniel began his career writing for Fresh Press before progressing into a full-time writing and editing role, producing club-focused coverage for Read Norwich, Read Celtic, Read Liverpool and Read Arsenal. He later spent almost a year with Liverpool-based outlet Anfield Watch, where his work included conducting and transcribing interviews with figures including Liverpool goalkeeping coach John Achterberg, former Wycombe striker Adebayo Akinfenwa and journalist Fabrizio Romano.

Daniel has worked with Snack Media (now Valnet) since 2021, contributing to Football FanCast as both a writer and editor. His work focuses particularly on player analysis, transfer insight and original football features, combining detailed knowledge of the game with research-driven assessment of players, clubs and potential moves.

His specialist knowledge of Norwich City and the Football League has also seen him contribute to BBC Norfolk and assist DAZN with research for commentary broadcasts. As a Norwich City season-ticket holder, Daniel brings a level of first-hand knowledge of the club and its players that complements his wider expertise across the Championship and EFL. His Norwich coverage has also featured in publications including the Coventry Telegraph and Liverpool Echo.

Alongside his Football League expertise, Daniel has covered Celtic and Rangers extensively, developing a strong understanding of Scottish football. His work gives readers informed transfer assessment, detailed player analysis and authoritative insight into clubs and competitions he has spent years following and reporting on.

A remarkable Leeds United statistic is that Noah Okafor remains the only attacking player signed for a transfer fee since their promotion from the Championship.

The £18m deal to sign the Switzerland international has been mixed in alongside a host of free agent and loan additions, including Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Lukas Nmecha, Harry Wilson, and Jean-Matteo Bahoya.

At the start of the recent summer transfer window, Leeds appeared to make a statement signing when they brought Wilson in on a free transfer from Premier League rivals Fulham.

The Wales international scored ten goals and provided seven assists in the division for the Cottagers in the 2025/26 campaign, but he has yet to impress at Elland Road.

Analysing why Harry Wilson has struggled at Leeds

Upon arriving in West Yorkshire at the start of July, the former Liverpool winger was handed the iconic number ten shirt, which has been worn by the likes of Joel Piroe, Crysencio Summerville, and Raphinha in recent years.

Last 10 players to wear no.10 for Leeds

Harry Wilson
Joel Piroe
Crysencio Summerville
Raphinha
Ezgjan Alioski
Marcus Antonsson
Alex Mowatt
Edgar Cani
Noel Hunt
Luciano Becchio

Unfortunately, Wilson has been unable to live up to the shirt number in his early performances for the Whites, as he has struggled in the Premier League this season.

His only goal contribution in a Leeds shirt so far was an assist in the 6-3 loss to Chelsea in the League Cup last month, whilst he has failed to deliver any goals or assists in four appearances in the Premier League.

Wilson has struggled with the physical demands that come with playing in Daniel Farke's 3-4-2-1 formation because he does not have the pace or strength to be effective as a counter-attacking winger.

The left-footed forward has yet to produce a shot on target or a 'big chance' created for his team in the Premier League, and has often failed to make the most of space on the counter due to wanting to slow play down instead of driving forward with the ball.

His early struggles in a Leeds shirt, due to the seeming incompatibility with the style of play, could already cause doubts over his long-term future in West Yorkshire.

Leeds have a teenager waiting to take the number ten shirt

Wilson may not live up to the legacy that the recent number tens at Elland Road left, but Farke has a young talent in the academy who has the potential to come through and take the number for himself.

The German head coach has shown that he is willing to bring young players through the academy, such as Archie Gray and Mateo Joseph, and Carrick Njinko could be the latest cab off the ranks.

Like Wilson, the 18-year-old attacker is a right-sided forward who is predominantly left-footed and likes to cut inside onto his favoured foot to make things happen in the final third.

Unlike the Welshman, though, Njinko is an electric forward with impressive pace and strength. Whilst he is unproven at senior level, his academy form shows that he has the potential to fit in with the club's current counter-attacking style in a 3-4-2-1 formation.

The English speedster has also played as a right winger, a right midfielder, and as a centre-forward during his time with the U18s and U21s, which means that he could be an ideal fit for the right-sided number ten role, which is a mix of those positions.

Arsenal, who won the Premier League last season, showed that it is never too early to bring young players into the mix, as they brought 16-year-old Max Dowman into the fold.

Carrick Njinko this season

Opposition

Goals

Middlesbrough U21s	2
Solihull Moors
Liverpool U21s	1
West Brom U21s	3
Boreham Wood

Farke must look at Njinko's return of six goals in five matches in all competitions for the U21s this season and give him the opportunity to be his own version of Dowman at Elland Road.

The Leeds youngster is a similar player to Dowman in the sense that they are both left-footed forwards who can play centrally or out wide and have an eye for goal, although the Whites player is just over a year older than the Arsenal man.

Njinko could be just as exciting for Leeds as Dowman is for the Gunners, though, because of the threat that he could provide at the top end of the pitch if he is able to carry his form over to senior level.

Should Wilson continue to struggle in the Premier League for the Whites this season, Farke should unleash the academy starlet to see if he has what it takes to deal with the intensity and physicality of the top-flight.

Njinko's electric start to the campaign suggests that he is well on his way to earning a first-team spot and that should worry Wilson, because the 18-year-old talent already looks more worthy of wearing the number ten shirt for Farke's side and could take it in the future.

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