The question on everybody’s lips, when Daniel Farke arrived for his pre-West Brom press conference, surrounded the fitness of Leeds United’s stricken captain Ethan Ampadu.
News of a second ‘big injury’ this season for the Welsh international – to quote Farke himself – certainly dampened the joy of Monday’s thrilling comeback win at Championship title rivals Sheffield United.
Farke suggested that Ethan Ampadu would need surgery to correct a cartilage issue in his knee.
As such, the skipper was a frustrated spectator at Bramall Lane as Chris Wilder’s Blades suffered the same fate as Sunderland seven days earlier; Junior Firpo, Ao Tanaka and Joel Piroe turning a 1-0 deficit into a 3-1 triumph in the last 25 minutes or so in the Steel City.
Ampadu had already missed 11 Championship games for Leeds United the other side of Christmas.
If the £7 million signing from Chelsea is destined to miss a similar period a few months on, it will be touch-and-go whether Ampadu features again before the 2024/25 campaign comes to an end.
Daniel Farke provides update on Leeds United captain Ethan Ampadu
Speaking ahead of West Brom’s trip to Elland Road in Saturday’s lunchtime kick-off, Farke provided a long-awaited update on Ampadu’s situation.
And it was not the news Leeds fans were hoping for. While Ampadu will not go under the knife – surgery would definitely have ended his season – it is still doubtful whether the captain will play any sort of a part in the final 12 matches.
“Sadly a knee injury. It is cartilage. A bit of a complicated situation,” Farke sighs. “Surgery would have meant him out for the season because, if you do a surgery, he would be out for a few month.
“After consultations, we are going to more conservative route. It means he is out for a few weeks. It means, before the international break, he won’t be available.
“At the moment, 50/50 he is back for the run-in. It’s rehab work. The next two weeks he won’t be able to do some running stuff. Next four to six weeks, he won’t be in team training.”
If indeed it is six weeks before Ampadu is back training with the rest of the Leeds United first-team at Thorp Arch, the clash with Oxford United on April 18th may be circled on the calendar as a potential return date.
That would see Ampadu – if all goes to plan – available for the final three clashes against Stoke, Bristol City and Plymouth Argyle.
Then again, this feels very much like a best-case scenario, and one reliant upon an absence of setbacks.
Farke looks ahead to West Brom clash with Max Wober also unavailable
Leeds are already without Max Wober until at least the end of March. Thus, leaving Joe Rodon and Pascal Struijk as the club’s only senior, natural central defensive options.
“[We are] unlucky with Wober out [as well],” Farke adds. “Obviously, I would prefer to have my captain [available].”
For the first week in a row, Leeds will face a team pushing for promotion this weekend. West Brom are fifth despite losing ex-Elland Road assistant Carlos Corberan to Valencia.
“West Brom are a pretty strong side,” Farke adds. “They are in fifth. For that, we have to be switched on and keep going in the small details. I’m not getting too carried away.
“We want to ride this momentum.”
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