You have to go back to October 22 for the last time Largie Ramazani started a Championship match. Ramazani, a £10m summer acquisition from Almeria, suffered an ankle ligament injury in the home win over Watford.

The knock kept the Leeds United winger out of action for over a month. It was a hugely frustrating setback for Ramazani, who has started to hit top form.

He made his Whites return as a late substitute against Luton Town last month. A further four appearances have followed from the bench as Ramazani continues to work his way back to full fitness.

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Now the Belgian faces a job on his hands to regain a place in the starting XI. Daniel James has made the right wing spot his own while Manor Solomon put in an enterprising performance on the opposite flank in their emphatic home win over Oxford United. Hames and Solomon got on the scoresheet and Ramazani wasted a number of opportunities to add to his tally in the closing stages of the Whites' final fixture before Christmas.

When asked what Ramazani needs to do to force his back into the starting line up, manager Daniel Farke told the media: “It’s not up to me, it’s up to him. I can’t do anything because I can’t train for him and I can’t deliver performances for him. We just can help him. I think he was pretty impressive, in red-hot form and no one can be blamed for this little injury.

“Especially for a creative player who also needs rhythm and confidence it came at one of the worst possible moments. He needs a bit to be back at his best in training and in the first appearances when we brought him in, he looked a bit in a few scenes a bit rusty, which is quite normal.

“But I think he has made a major step in the last two weeks in training. He couldn’t perhaps use it much in the last away game at Preston but I also spoke to him that I like what I’ve seen in training, because he’s working really hard also against the ball, with focus and concentration in details.

“Even when we do passing exercises that is something you need to do to force yourself to be back in the best shape. I am pretty delighted with his work ethic at the moment, and yeah you saw glimpses today. He brought himself into some really good positions.

“For example the great chance with the header, the great run to bring himself in this position. Just a little unlucky he didn’t score because he deserved to deliver the end product. Overall we are happy to have him back, I would even say back at his best right now from a physical point of view.

“If he gains a little bit of rhythm, momentum and confidence I think he can follow up where he ended before his injury. It’s a good feeling to have him back as an option.”