Ex-Leeds United defender Danny Mills on getting it wrong regarding old club - and Premier League examples to follow in 2026-27

Happy to be proved wrong at his belief, before a ball was kicked last August, that Leeds would struggle to stay in the Premier League under the German, Mills' message remains a cautious one going forward.

While United's impressive feats have inspired talk of what lies in store next season, Mills believes that incremental growth - 'baby steps' in his words - is the order of the day.

He has cited the fortunes of two established top-flight clubs as being the perfect examples to follow.

Mills, speaking at a Kirkstall VETS playing session highlighting the benefits of Arthrosamid - a hydrogel injection which is aiding ex-professional players and retired athletes across all sports - said: "I'm delighted for Leeds this season. I'll hold my hands up.

"I wasn't convinced on Daniel Farke in terms of whether he was going to be able to keep them in the division.

"It's a different coaching set-up and mentality when you're winning every week, dominating possession and winning games and scoring goals to suddenly being at the the other end of the table, having to defend a lot more and not having the ball.

"Fair play to him, he found a system that worked and he's kept them up with plenty of space and time to spare.

"So I think every Leeds fan would have taken where they are at the start of the season. Now it's about recruitment and building on that and consolidating for next season.

"Baby steps is what I would say to everybody coming up to the Premier League. Staying up that first season is absolutely vital. It then gives you a platform. Do not think you're going to go from 16 or 17th to fourth, be realistic about that.

"If you can get to 40 points next year by March, then everybody's absolutely delighted. Build slowly, add two or three real quality players over the summer and build the team around that.

"Consolidate and get Leeds back to where they used to be which is a regular Premier League football club with no real fear of going down.

"You want to be in that Bournemouth or Brighton position for two or three seasons where you're not panicking and thinking every year: 'Yeah, it's going to be a relegation battle'.

"Just slowly build on what's been done this year and the future will be bright."