I feel completely at home with Leeds United and have taken my game to the next level under Daniel Farke — YEP 10/2/25
By Kyle Newbould
Joel Piroe has cemented himself as Leeds United's
first-choice striker under Daniel Farke.
Joel Piroe believes he has taken his game to another level
since joining Leeds United, who he hopes to be playing Premier League football
for come August.
The 25-year-old has cemented himself as Leeds’ first-choice
striker this season, with long-time leading man Patrick Bamford out for long
periods and Mateo Joseph struggling to impress in recent starting
opportunities. A tally of 13 goals in 31 league games is already equal to last
season’s total and will almost certainly be bettered.
Piroe has been consistent in front of goal all season but a
purple patch has him on three goals in his last two league outings against
Cardiff City and Coventry, while there has also been a notable improvement in
his build-up play. Leeds are really starting to tick going forward and their
Dutch striker is leading the way.
"First of all, the manager has full confidence in me,
but I dare say that I can finish reasonably well,” a confident Piroe told Dutch
outlet ad.nl of his Leeds form. “That's not bragging. I don't need a lot of
chances right away. At home against Cardiff City we got a penalty. Before I
shot, the fans were already cheering. Yes, luckily the ball went in.
"The playing style of Swansea City and now Leeds also
suits me. That is assuming possession, playing on the attack. At Swansea City
it was enjoyable. But at Leeds United I really got better. In strength, speed,
intensity. Everything has been taken to a higher level."
Piroe has had his fair share of critics in LS11 despite
enjoying an 18-month spell in which the goals have flowed, with questions
regarding his overall involvement in the game. But Leeds signed one of the
Championship’s most prolific goalscorers to do exactly that and Farke’s trust
is being rewarded.
With Bamford injured and 21-year-old Joseph still so raw,
there is now little debate among fans as to who should be starting at No.9 for
Leeds, with Piroe likely taking the responsibility from now until May. The
pressure is there every week for him to score but fortunately, that is proving
no issue for the experienced goalscorer.
"I'm completely at home at Leeds United," Piroe
explained. "This is a really big club. You can feel it when you walk
around here. Everything. The atmosphere in the city, the fans and the history
of the club.
“Man, around those matches, the people here go wild. The
experience is very intense. In the stadium you're in a hurricane of sound. It's
very special to experience that."
Piroe was of interest to several Premier League clubs during
his time at Swansea but saw Leeds as the ideal next step, with the aim of
cementing himself within a promotion-winning team rather than going fresh into
a relegation fight. Last season’s play-off final defeat to Southampton put his
top-flight dreams on hold for a year but there is growing optimism the Whites
can get it done this time round.
“Yes, it's such a big competition,” Piroe added of his
Premier League ambitions. “It's not normal. It would be an adventure for me
too. A step up. Then I would have to prove that I can compete at that level. It
seems really great to me."