Just last week, Daniel Farke suggested that Leeds United captain Ethan Ampadu had only a 50/50 per cent of returning before the end of the Championship season.
Now, heading into the final stretch of the campaign with Portsmouth to come first in Sunday’s early kick-off on the South Coast, the manager’s latest injury update was not quite so bleak.
Farke was unwilling to put a percentage on Ethan Ampadu’s situation this time.
But if it Ampadu’s hopes of a return stood at 50/50 seven days ago, it appears that the captain’s chances of appearing back on the pitch before the curtain falls on the 2024/25 campaign have risen somewhat.
Maybe not up to 80 or 90 per cent, but certainly a lot higher than 50.
Speaking ahead of Leeds United’s trip to Fratton Park – the Championship table-toppers could see their three-point lead scrubbed out with Sheffield United hosting Preston North End a day earlier – Farke confirmed that Max Wober is not the only defender who could make his return on the other side of the March international break.
He is still not in a position where he can completely rule out Ampadu going under the knife to correct a knee cartilage issue.
But the former Norwich City chief certainly sounds a lot more positive about his captain’s involvement at the business end of a gruelling campaign.
Daniel Farke gives positive update on Leeds United captain Ethan Ampadu
“The good [news] is that everyone who was available for the last game is available for this game as it stands. All were able to recover from a few hits and knocks,” Farke explains, Ampadu now potentially back in early April rather than at the middle or the end of the month.
“Rehab for Ampadu and Wober. Hopefully, we have them more or less [back] on the other side of the international break. With Max, it’s pretty clear it will work out. With Ethan, there’s still an opportunity he needs surgery.
“But, at the most, he looks like he could join us for the run-in.”
Daniel Farke expressed concerns about Mateo Joseph after the striker rolled his ankle in last week’s 1-1 draw with West Brom. His comments appear to suggest, however, that the Spain Under-21 international will be available for selection again away at John Mousinho’s Portsmouth side.
Chasing promotion out of England’s second tier for a third time, Farke also confirmed that long-term absentee Patrick Bamford is stepping up his own return to fitness. The veteran striker has not featured since the 1-1 draw with Blackburn Rovers on New Years’ Day.
Farke says Patrick Bamford back in training as Joe Rothwell backed to step up
“Bamford, he was part integrated into team training in this week,” Farke adds. “He was out for nine weeks. He was able to handle the load. Good news for him, he’s making progress.”
That Portsmouth clash will obviously come too soon for Bamford, Wober and Ampadu, however. Fortunately, Farke possesses possess the kind of strength in depth most clubs at this level can only dream of.
Former Leeds midfielder David Prutton is confident Joe Rothwell will step up if required in Ampadu’s absence, while the return to full match sharpness of Pascal Struijk also could not have come at a better time.
“We talked earlier in the season about [Ampadu] being out and then suddenly you get Joe Rothwell and Ao Tanaka looking like one of the best midfield partnerships in the division,” Prutton tells the Yorkshire Evening Post
“Obviously Tanaka’s journey has been a bit different but Joe is a very good player.
“I’m sure he didn’t come to Leeds to be a bit part player at all because of his reputation and his ability but his ability to change games, his responsibility on the ball, his ability on the ball and his ability from set pieces.
“And we have all seen that is priceless.”
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