Leeds United are gearing up to bounce back from their first Premier League defeat of the campaign as they prepare to host bitter rivals Manchester United at Elland Road. Daniel Farke’s men saw their unbeaten run snapped in a hard-fought 2-1 defeat to Arsenal, but several encouraging displays softened the blow. Among those standing tall in North London was Ao Tanaka, whose ongoing resurgence in West Yorkshire continues to alter the midfield dynamic.

​Tanaka’s current standing is a dramatic shift from his early struggles. Following Leeds’ promotion, the Japan international appeared overwhelmed by top-flight intensity. In his first two outings against Arsenal and Everton, he lost nine of eleven ground duels, fell short in both aerial challenges, and saw opponents dribble past him five times. Consequently, Farke removed him from the lineup. Over the next six matches across September and October, Tanaka earned just a single start, languishing behind the likes of Sean Longstaff, Ethan Ampadu, and Anton Stach.

​Even when Farke altered his tactical setup, Tanaka struggled for traction. The Japanese midfielder sat through seven fixtures as an unused substitute between January and March, during which Ilia Gruev cemented a run of eleven straight league starts. Rather than seeking a quick exit during the winter window, Tanaka chose patience and graft.

​His reward arrived with a start in a memorable 2-1 triumph at Old Trafford. Tanaka rose to the occasion by creating four scoring chances and winning three of his four ground duels. He retained his spot for the remaining six fixtures of that season, and he has carried that momentum into the current campaign by starting four of his five appearances while winning 64 percent of his duels. Moreover, his personal record of having never lost a home league match at Elland Road further underlines his growing influence.

​However, Tanaka’s midfield revival has created collateral damage for one of his teammates. Gruev has seen his prospects in West Yorkshire dwindle as a direct consequence of the 28-year-old’s form. The Bulgarian international has not started a top-flight game for Leeds since Tanaka’s breakthrough run in April, with his last starting nod coming in a home defeat to Sunderland.

​Gruev returned from an injury layoff in September, but he has failed to play a single league minute this season. Instead, he has remained confined to the bench against Crystal Palace and Arsenal while Farke leans on Tanaka, Stach, and Ampadu. Team records do not bolster Gruev’s case either; the Whites managed only two wins across the fifteen Premier League games he started last season, averaging a mediocre 1.67 points per match.

​Now 26 and stuck deep on the bench, Gruev faces a bleak outlook under Farke. With Tanaka firmly entrenched as a key cog in Leeds’ engine room, Gruev may need to pursue a transfer away from Elland Road once the January window opens to resurrect his own career.