Leeds United debut wait could go on for months after Ilia Gruev warning from Daniel Farke

Patience will be required by Leeds United’s newest faces as they wait a little longer for a chance that may take months to arrive with Daniel Farke. Largie Ramazani, Ao Tanaka and Isaac Schmidt are unknown quantities in English football and, as Ilia Gruev showed last season, there is no guarantee they will make an impact any time soon.

Losing to Burnley last weekend has turned the screw on Farke to make changes in an effort to steady the Leeds ship in Wales. Ironically, Gruev is one of the players who some fans may want to see switched out for someone more offensive, like a Tanaka, but the manager has warned new arrivals have no guarantee of hitting the ground running.

The Bulgarian was one of 2023’s arrivals who needed time before Farke could trust him to have an impact on a promotion-chasing outfit. An ill-fated full debut at Stoke City on October 25 kept him out of the starting line-up until December 29, but from then on, Gruev became one of the team’s best performers.

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In stark contrast, Archie Gray eradicated any doubters from day one with his performances, despite his lack of prior first-team experience.

“We have many exciting, young players with lots of potential, but we have to be careful in order to praise them that much because you have to deliver it first in this league, in English football and also in the top leagues,” said Farke. “Sometimes you have to be a bit patient.

“Sometimes it's really, really quick. For example, Archie Gray last season, did not start one game [before] and more or less from the first game he looked unbelievably sharp because he's an exceptional talent. I'm pretty pleased with it.

“Sometimes, you also have to be patient. So, for me, the best example is also in our group, Ilia Gruev. He came to us and had already 60 Bundesliga games under his belt. So, really on the top level and he needed to adapt a bit to the physicality, to the tempo, to the intensity.

“It lasted, more or less, four, five, six months until he was involved. From this moment, he never looked back. I would say, from January onwards, Ilia is probably our most consistent player. Since he came into our team, we had the best spell in terms of winning points.

“I would also say, in the first five games, he's probably one of our most consistent performers, but it lasted a while because he has to adapt to it. This is what you also have to guarantee to your new signings once they have not delivered on this level before.”

Before they signed, Ramazani, Tanaka and Schmidt were seemingly reassured they would be given the time to get up to speed with Championship football.

“[You have to guarantee] they will get the time, they will get the backing,” said Farke. “If they are prepared already after a few days or a couple of weeks, great, even better, but sometimes you also have to expect it lasts a bit longer and we just can bring them close to the door.

“They have to make the step through it and you have to earn your right to play. You have to earn the right also to speak about a really, really good quality Championship player. A really good quality player in English football.

“This is what they have to prove. They have all the capability and our backing and all our work rate with them, but it's up to them to prove this.”