‘In the locker’… Pundit says 23-year-old Leeds player is actually so much quicker than he looks

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Leeds United have an absolute abundance of pace in their squad at the moment.

Both Crysencio Summerville and Dan James are arguably the two quickest wingers across the entirety of the Championship, while Georginio Rutter’s running has been too much for defences at times.

These players have led many managers to label Leeds as the best side in the division on the counter-attack, and so teams have certainly been a lot more careful in that regard recently.

However, in last night’s 1-0 win over Stoke City, there was a surprising member of Leeds‘ starting XI whose pace caught the eye of pundit Aidy White on BBC Radio Leeds post-match.

That man is Ethan Ampadu. The 23-year-old twice went on a mazy run from the back during the game and White admitted he was surprised to see him move with the ball so quickly.

White praises surprise Ampadu pace

He said: “He was going on little mazes from that centre-back position, twice he did it in that second half and showed a great turn of pace and legs that we probably wouldn’t usually associate him with, but he obviously has that in the locker.”

Just like he has done throughout his time with the armband, Ampadu really led by example for Leeds tonight both in and out of possession.

Daniel Farke praised both him and Joe Rodon for their ability to win defensive duels last night, but he was also the man who took responsibility on the ball by playing forward passes, or going on mazy runs.

Ampadu has been superb a centre-back since filling in for the injured Pascal Struijk but there is no doubt his bravery on the ball is missed in midfield when he is not in there.

The 23-year-old was brilliant in his favoured position at former club Chelsea last week and so hopefully after the international break, he will be back in there if Struijk is fit.