The form of Joe Rodon and Ethan Ampadu has been sensational. The Leeds United duo have been immense in the middle of the defence, since the turn of the new year for Daniel Farke’s side.
Rodon and Ampadu have started 12 Championship games in a row together at centre-back. In that time, the Whites have won 11 games – keeping a massive nine clean sheets and conceding only three goals.
Leeds are on fire and on Sunday, clawed their way to top spot with a 2-0 win over Millwall. The Whites look in excellent touch – even if Ampadu claimed that Rodon hates playing alongside him in defence.
But that form makes it difficult for others. Those on the fringes, or those who have been injured, have been made to wait for a chance. Struijk was captaining the side up until the turn of the year before injury.
He has now missed 14 Championship games in a row, not playing in 2024. Farke recently said that he could miss the rest of the season – and Hay told TSB that even if returns and is fit, does he get back in?
“You get the vibe that [surgery] might well happen. With eight games to go – if he was to come back, I just don’t see him playing, or breaking up the centre-backs that are playing at the moment. Too good.”
Phil Hay says Pascal Struijk will struggle to start for Leeds United
He’s not wrong. Struijk was one of our best players during the first half of the season. But, with Rodon and Ampadu playing so well – and Ilia Gruev covering Ampadu in midfield perfectly – why change?
Leeds are playing as well as fans have witnessed since the era of Marcelo Bielsa and with eight games to go, promotion is a real possibility. It is too much of a risk to change the line-up at this late stage.
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