Ethan Ampadu is a major doubt for Leeds United’s clash against Norwich City on Tuesday night after the captain picked up a knock to his knee in the win over Coventry City.
Ampadu, 23, appeared to twist his knee on Saturday and was forced off the field of play. It is not the first time the Wales star has picked up a knock this season, coming off against Burnley after a first-half tackle.
It forced Ampadu off and he was replaced by new signing Ao Tanaka, who impressed alongside Ilia Gruev. Leeds are in the midst of a busy schedule, with Coventry their first of three games in the space of six days.
Next up is Norwich away on Tuesday night, a woeful trip for supporters in the middle of the week. It gives Ampadu just 72 hours in total to recover from the knock, and whether he will be fit to play at Norwich.
Daniel Farke said Ampadu told him the knock wasn’t bad after the match, but Ampadu’s desire to play and captain Leeds might have downplayed the seriousness of the knock the Welshman has picked up.
Smyth says he would be surprised if Ampadu is fit for Norwich
Losing Ampadu would be a blow. A leader in this side, Ampadu’s performances have been crucial in keeping Leeds defensively solid, with The Whites clocking up five clean sheets in their last six matches.
Speaking to The Square Ball, the Yorkshire Evening Post’s chief Leeds writer Graham Smyth said he feels it would be unlikely if Ampadu is fit to play against Norwich having seen the way Ampadu limped off.
“Ampadu told Farke he doesn’t think it’s bad. Farke too careful yet to be optimistic. They’re going to wait for it to be assessed. You’d have to say, looking at the way he was moving, Tuesday would be unlikely.”
Farke’s midfield options without Ampadu if unfit for Norwich
Leeds’ work in the transfer window in the summer means that Farke does have more options in the middle of the park. Tanaka was crucial in the move for Leeds’ third goal against Coventry on Saturday.
Farke’s potential midfield combinations against Norwich:
- Gruev sitting, Tanaka as box-to-box
- Gruev sitting, Rothwell as box-to-box
- Gruev as a pivot, Tanaka and Aaronson as two no.8’s
- Gruev as a pivot, Tanaka and Rothwell as two no.8’s
The chances are and especially given his performance after coming off the bench, is that Japan star Tanaka comes in for Ampadu and Bulgaria ace Gruev becomes more defensive on Tuesday night.
Norwich present a solid opponent but they have lost Jonathan Rowe and Gabriel Sara compared to last season. But given it is away from home, Farke may prefer to pack the midfield and play conservatively.
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