Michael Bridges has admitted that there is something about Ethan Ampadu which has left him in disbelief as he commented on the decision to make him the new Leeds United captain.
Leeds fans were probably not particularly surprised when it was announced that Ethan Ampadu had been named as the club’s new skipper, with Pascal Struijk and Illan Meslier being promoted to the vice-captaincy role. Ampadu had often worn the armband last season with Liam Cooper not a regular starter under Daniel Farke.
With Struijk now back fit, it appears that Ampadu is going to return to midfield this season.
He has become so integral to this Leeds side – just over a year after arriving at Elland Road. And Whites supporters will hope that Elland Road is going to be his home for some time to come.
Michael Bridges in disbelief over Ethan Ampadu fact
Speaking on LUTV ahead of the friendly with Valencia about the decision to name Ampadu as captain, Michael Bridges suggested that he is a huge admirer of the 23-year-old.
“Yeah, he’s been a breath of fresh air, a true leader, loads of experience, even for a man, when I look at his age, I’m in disbelief at how many appearances he’s got for club and country. And I’m just pleased to see that he’s back in his favoured midfield position,” he said.
Well over 200 games for club and country already
It is remarkable that Ampadu has played so much football, particularly as a couple of those years were spent largely out of the first-team picture at Chelsea. He has played more than 50 times for his country, and he does not even turn 24 until September.
Leeds will hope that that means that there is so much to come from the midfielder in the years to come, as this is the first time in his professional career that he has had some real consistency.
Farke has put together an extremely impressive spine of the side, with Ampadu an important part of that whether he is playing at centre-back or slightly further forward.
And it would be no surprise if he proved to be the player this Leeds team is built around for years to come.
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