Leeds United have made an electric start to the calendar year of 2024.
After a difficult end to last year, Leeds have responded by winning seven of their eight matches across all competitions since the turn of the New Year, propelling them right into the mix for the top two.
Recent form has seen a number of the first half of the season fringe players such as Ilia Gruev, Patrick Bamford and Junior Firpo come to the core, but there still remains a small group of players who are simply undroppable from the starting XI.
Ethan Ampadu is certainly someone who falls under that category, even if he did get his first rest of the season at Plymouth Argyle on Tuesday, having started every game of all competitions previously, since joining Leeds in the summer.
Speaking in an interview with LUTV ahead of today’s game with Rotherham United, Ampadu believes the rhythm he has built this season means he is now playing the best football of his career.
Ampadu says he is in best form of career
He said: “Don’t know, you tell me! I have been in a good rhythm and I am enjoying it. I would say throughout my career I have had some good performances but consistently as rhythm goes, and building the strengths within one position, I would say so, yes.”
Ampadu had played the entirety of the season in central midfield until last month, as he has had to fill in for the injured Pascal Struijk, who has been out since Boxing Day.
Despite the change of position, the 23-year-old’s performance levels have not dropped as he has formed a formidable partnership alongside fellow Welshman Joe Rodon at centre-back.
Ampadu has often been regarded as Rolls-Royce for his performances at Leeds and there is no doubt he is one of, if not the club’s signing of the summer.
It will certainly be interesting to see how Daniel Farke utilises Ampadu once Struijk is back fit again, amid the form of Ilia Gruev, who has been outstanding in that holding midfield role as of late.
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