Pascal Struijk is still waiting to return to Leeds United’s side as he continues his recovery from injury but he is confident the side is in good hands with Ethan Ampadu wearing the captain’s armband.
Struijk had been captaining Leeds this season with Luke Ayling previously struggling for game time and going to Middlesbrough. Liam Cooper has been in and out of the side, falling down the pecking order.
But with Struijk on the sidelines for the last seven Championship games, Ampadu has been wearing the armband – replacing Struijk in the middle of the defence alongside Joe Rodon. He has been excellent.
Perhaps even more so, than when the Wales star was playing in midfield. Ilia Gruev has excelled in the middle of the park with Ampadu in defence. Struijk was a guest on Leeds’ preview show on Saturday.
The left-footed star was asked about the £10m signing, and he spoke highly of Ampadu. He praised the former Chelsea star for rising to the plate in terms of leadership, in his absence over the last few weeks.
“Off the pitch, he’s a really good guy. And then in the group, I feel like – especially now, stepping up as captain – his leadership is growing. It was already there, but it is probably growing even more now.
“I don’t want to say I’m loud, I’m not. When there’s absentees, there are people that have to step up and take the captaincy serious especially in a little bit of a down period. He’s doing the job really well, so far.”
Pascal Struijk praises Leeds star Ethan Ampadu’s leadership
Ampadu has been excellent – and it cannot have been easy for him. While he has regularly played at centre-back in the past, Ampadu had not played there for half a season – before reverting to defence.
That, combined with the task of captaining the side. But, he has dealt with it impeccably – perhaps with the help of playing alongside a player he knows so well in the form of Rodon. Long may it continue.
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