Leeds United’s players and staff walked off the pitch at the London Stadium in their final Premier League encounter frustrated and angry. The reaction wouldn’t have suggested the Whites had just finished 14th on their return to the top-flight but high standards had been set.

That is testament to the work ethic within the squad admits James Justin, who has excelled under boss Daniel Farke since his arrival from Leicester City last summer. Leeds had gone into the clash in the capital unbeaten in eight and enjoying their best spell of form in the Premier League since 2001.

Despite the defeat, the Whites finished the campaign with an impressive 47-point haul, bucking the trend that has seen newly promoted sides struggle to translate their Championship form into top division results. The return has exceeded all expectations from those outside the club though not internally, according to Justin.

“I feel like it is a never-say-die attitude,” explained the versatile defender. “And obviously, we have got fighters in the team that will fight to the very end in each and every game, no matter who we are playing. That is a big thing for us in our dressing room and the staff, making sure our physical level is at the highest as possible so that we can compete at the highest level.

“I feel like it was maybe teething problems coming to the Premier League and a few things weren’t going our way but we were still doing okay in games. And then I think everyone says it is the game against Man City away. We ended up losing but just the whole atmosphere around the place changed.

“And from then, we have been on a decent run, to be honest, all the way up until the end of the season. I would say that was really the turning point in our season because I think that was a week we had three really difficult games and we came out relatively unscathed in the grand scheme of things. It is also a good sign when it gets down to crunch time, we can pull it out of the bag. So, yeah, it is a good thing looking into next season, especially.”

Since the turn of the year, the 28-year-old has started in every single Premier League fixture beginning with the goalless draw at Anfield and has featured at full-back and wing-back on either side of defence as well as centrally, too. James arrived in West Yorkshire after a lengthy spell in the Midlands with Leicester City and 36 games later with his new club, the England international couldn’t be happier with his Elland Road switch.

“I feel like it was a good time in my career to change. I have been in England all of my career so I kind of knew the history of Leeds and how big of a club it is. But actually moving here and being in and around the city, I feel like everyone is Leeds. It has been a breath of fresh air, to be honest.

“To see how the club operates day in and day out and all the people at the club, it has been amazing, obviously the size of the club and the ambitions. The owners are super ambitious but also relatively grounded.”

Under Farke, the Whites have made history several times throughout what has been an incredibly memorable maiden term back in the big time. A first Emirates FA Cup semi-final since 1987 was reached. Noah Okafor went to Old Trafford on a Monday night and scored two at the Stretford End, as the song goes, recording a first league victory over our rivals away from home in 45 years. Them, Liverpool and Chelsea were unable to take all three points against United in both fixtures.

The manager has given a squad that stormed to the Sky Bet Championship title previously the belief and tools to make the step up and complemented the existing ranks with numerous key additions at the back, in the engine room and up top.

“He has done an unbelievable job, obviously,” Justin added, discussing what it has been like to work under the boss. “As we mentioned, from that halftime at Man City, I feel like the fortunes of the club have turned around and there has been a whole lot more positivity about it. He has done such an amazing job with his coaching staff and everyone around the club. They have kept us going in the right direction.”

And now the action has drawn to a close, there are some important matters taking place off the pitch for JJ, too, who laughs as he told us his post-season plans: “I am getting married this summer actually! So that is going to be the highlight of my summer and after that, get back to training. But yeah, excited to have some time off.”