The majority of Championship clubs might have struggled to keep their proverbial sheets clean in the absence of one of their first-choice centre-backs. But not Leeds United.
Not with Ethan Ampadu more than capable of stepping in.
Leeds United were fortunate in that, when Pascal Struijk was ruled out for a number of weeks in early-2025, this coincided with Ampadu’s return after a long injury absence.
Struijk has not started any of Leeds’ last seven matches, Ampadu beginning alongside Joe Rodon in each of those outings. A run of six straight clean sheets – the first time the Yorkshire giants have achieved this feat since 1981 – is made all the more impressive, then, when you consider that Struijk has been limited to just three cameo appearances off the bench since being consigned to the sidelines after the draw with Blackburn Rovers on New Year’s Day.
Watford became the latest team to fail to break down Daniel Farke’s rock-solid unit in midweek. The ‘unplayable’ Manor Solomon scored again at Vicarage Road, as the Leeds loanee praised the club’s ‘incredible’ defensive set-up in the aftermath of that 4-0 hammering in Hertfordshire.
Speaking ahead of Monday night’s clash with promotion-chasing Sunderland, Farke was also keen to highlight the importance of his captain. Across their last ten Championship matches with Ethan Ampadu in the starting XI, Leeds have kept a staggering clean sheet nine times.
Daniel Farke hails Ethan Ampadu’s influence at Leeds United
“Yes, very pleased [with Ampadu’s performances]. He’s our captain,” Farke smiles. “We missed him for such as long time.”
“Obviously, he helps a lot at centre-back and he did an outstanding job with Joe Rodon. There’s no doubt about [Ampadu’s ability to play in defence]. It’s no coincidence we are there with so many clean sheets.”
Farke does admit, however, that he will look to rest the Wales international when the opportunity arises. Struijk’s return to selection does make that a possibility, the former Ajax youngster playing the full 90 minutes for only the second time in 2025 during last week’s shock FA Cup defeat by Millwall.
Farke wary of risking an injury setback for Leeds captain Ampadu
“We have to be careful. Whenever I can give [Ampadu] a few minutes break, we will try and do this. To have him back in his best shape, it’s important,” Farke adds. “But I am also happy to have Pascal back.”
“[Struijk] was struggling with back-to-back injuries over Christmas and in January. I was happy I could give him the first experience of 90 minutes in the cup against Millwall, but it was also clear I would not send him straight away three days later in the next game after he was out for so long.
“For that, it good that we don’t have to rush him and risk another long-term injury. For us, it a good situation due to the strenght in the defensive role and the midfielders as well, we can afford not to rush Pascal back into the starting line-up. Quite often, that’s priceless.
“But we also need Pascal’s skills in defending and attacking set pieces.”
Struijk should be in line to start against Sunderland, though Farke may understandably look to avoid breaking up what has been a winning, Welsh partnership of Ampadu and Rodon given the attacking talents available to a fourth-placed Black Cats outfit.
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