Beren Cross's Leeds United notebook as Tanaka and Gnonto turn more heads and cup tickets available

Following the midfielder's victories in October and November, Leeds United supporters have chosen Ao Tanaka as their JD Sports Player of the Month for the second consecutive month. The Japanese international has made 16 appearances for the Whites since signing from Fortuna Düsseldorf in August and he has played every minute since making his debut against Norwich City in October.

Tanaka maintained his form in November, playing 540 minutes in six games and recording 619 touches, 490 completed passes and 35 victories in duels. The 26-year-old was voted Player of the Match for Leeds' triumphs over Plymouth Argyle and Luton Town and contributed significantly to the team's four-game winning streak.

Even though the club had many outstanding performances in November, Tanaka was the most popular choice among fans, with 66 per cent choosing the midfielder, followed by Dan James (16 per cent), Joe Rothwell (four per cent) and Wilfried Gnonto (three per cent).

Gnonto in Team of the Week

Wilfried Gnonto has been included in the Championship’s Team of the Week after the midweek round of fixtures. They have used the algorithm generated by WhoScored.com to put the Italian the best 11 performers in Tuesday and Wednesday’s games.

FA Cup tickets

You can now reserve your seat for Leeds United vs Harrogate Town in the FA Cup third round, which will be the team’s first Yorkshire derby of 2025. The match, which is scheduled for Saturday, January 11, will be the two teams' first competitive encounter.

The kick-off time is set for 5.45pm. Concessions and junior tickets are £10 and £15 respectively, while adult tickets are £20. There won't be a ballot for this match. Tickets will be offered in four stages.

Season ticket holders can enrol in the club’s Auto Cup programme by logging into their account if they don't want to miss their ticket for this game or any future home cup matches. The deadline to sign up for the Harrogate game is midnight as December 13 starts.

Find out more here.

Under-21 preview

On Friday, Leeds United under-21s will host Blackburn Rovers U21s at York Community Stadium in their final Premier League 2 match of 2024. Following a 1-0 away win over Nottingham Forest, Scott Gardner's team suffered close losses to Fulham and Newcastle United in the league.

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Away from the league, the Whites put on a great show against FC Halifax Town in the National League Cup, winning on penalties after goals from Joe Snowdon and Rhys Chadwick were pegged back in regular time. Chadwick’s strong run of success in front of goal, after six strikes in his past eight games, continued at The Shay with a calm and confident finish into the bottom corner.

The Whites' record after nine games is three wins, three draws, and three losses. They have accumulated 12 points, which puts them eight points ahead of Blackburn, who are now in second place.

Rovers have only won one game and drawn one of their nine games in the Premier League so far this season. However, those two wins, a 3-2 triumph over Leicester City and a 2-2 draw with West Bromwich Albion, came in the last four games, which helped them get away from Stoke City at the bottom of the table.

Women’s boss nominated

Leeds United Women’s boss Simon Wood has been nominated for the FA WNL Manager of the Month award for November. During last month, the Whites continued their blistering winning streak and maintained a 100 per cent record across November, thanks to victories over high-flying Chorley and York City Ladies.

A stern test in Lancashire saw United run out 3-2 victors over an impressive Chorley side, thanks to a brace from forward Sian Gibrill-Keating and a well-taken strike from Drew Greene. In United’s historic 3-0 victory over York City, which was supported by almost 5,000 fans inside Elland Road, Greene and her sister Darcie scored once more.

With eight of their 11 games played so far, Wood's team leads the Division One North standings at the halfway point of the season.