(Credit: Imago)

Evan Shaw

Sun 29 March 2026 15:30, UK

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Daniel Farke has been in the firing line of Leeds United fans yet again after Ao Tanaka’s performance in Japan’s 1-0 win over Scotland on Saturday.

The Whites star played 78 minutes at the heart of the visitors’ midfield before Junya Ito came off the bench to net a late winner for Hajime Moriyasu’s side at Hampden Park.

Tanaka was a commanding presence in the middle of the park, as he continues to play a key role for his national team ahead of this summer’s World Cup.

However, the same cannot be said of his current status at Elland Road, with last season’s promotion hero having started from the off just seven times in the Premier League so far this term.

Leeds travel to face Manchester United in their next outing after the international break, and their fans feel that Tanaka is being hugely underutilised amid the team’s ongoing relegation fight.

Leeds fans erupt over lack of football for Ao Tanaka

Tanaka started 37 games in the Championship last season, but his opportunities to impress have arrived far more sporadically this term.

He has played just 22 minutes of Premier League football since the end of January, with Farke opting to stick with the duo of Ethan Ampadu and Anton Stach in the middle of the park for the majority of that time.

However, Leeds fans feel vehemently that the 27-year-old should be in line to receive more gametime between now and the end of the season, as they try to secure their top-flight status for another year.

Supporters took to X to make their frustrations known, after the club delivered an update regarding his fortunes on international duty via their official account.

One fan suggested that Tanaka would soon return to “warming the bench for the German Gareth Southgate,” while another labelled it “ridiculous” that Farke isn’t naming him in the starting XI.

One fan even went as far as to suggest that it is a “little bit of a disgrace” that Tanaka hasn’t had more football in a white shirt this season, and it was also noted that the midfielder “needs better treatment” from the boss.

• @JayCoyle301: “Getting more minutes on international break than in the Premier League.”
• @russcausier: “Glad he’s getting some minutes, another wasted under farke, farke’s faves have a stinker and still start, just daft at this point!”
• @MOTweets1919: “78 minutes tonight. That’s more than he’s played for us since exactly the same amount against Birmingham in mid-February…”

Tanaka could depart Elland Road this summer

Football Insider revealed earlier this week that Tanaka could push to leave Leeds at the end of the season, with frustration building over his lack of involvement of late.

The ex-Fortuna Dusseldorf man is expected to try and find a new club ahead of the next campaign if his situation doesn’t improve in the coming weeks, but he is willing to put that plan on hold for now.

Tanaka’s full focus is on helping the Whites to secure their top-flight status, and he is prepared to put any thoughts regarding his own future on hold until after the job has been done.

He is sure to be annoyed with the lack of opportunities that he has had to endure after such a successful season last time out, but he will be intent on ensuring that he is ready to perform when called upon.