It is clear that Daniel Farke has found his favoured Leeds United starting XI over the last few weeks.
Across the last five matches, Farke has made just one enforced change to his line-up, with Djed Spence starting at left-back in place of Sam Byram, who is on the sidelines with a hamstring injury.
While that continuity has, in the main been positive, the last couple of matches have shown a need to rotate, though Farke has opted against doing so, contributing to dropped points against Sunderland and Coventry City.
The only outfielder to have played every minute of every game so far this season is Ethan Ampadu, who has established himself as crucial to Farke’s style and system since joining from Chelsea.
However, the last couple of weeks have seen him dip below his usual high standards, with arguably his worst performance of the season coming at the Stadium of Light.
Farke should not be afraid to rest Ampadu
Given the amount of football he has played for both club and country, there have been obvious question marks raised as to whether he should get a rest from time to time.
Farke even admitted himself that Ampadu has seen a drop in performance levels, though the 23-year-old has insisted in a recent interview that it is not down to fatigue.
Ultimately, though, Ampadu is never going to come out and say that he needs a rest, and it should be Farke who recognises when he could perhaps do with the odd game out of the XI.
Leeds have £5 million signing Ilia Gruev sat on the bench twiddling his thumbs most week, and if he isn’t going to be handed an opportunity during the busiest period of the season – when he is?
Gruev is a holding midfielder with plenty of Bundesliga experience and so clearly has what it takes to do a job, if not more, at this level.
Ampadu is undoubtedly first choice and when he is fit should be starting more often than not, but Farke should not be afraid to give him a rest every now and then.
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