Leeds United have a number of players on international duty currently, including Ethan Ampadu, Joe Rodon, and Karl Darlow for Wales.
That Leeds United trio were all involved, and indeed started, during Wales’ 3-0 victory over Liechtenstein in the UEFA World Cup Qualifiers Group Stage, with Wales currently topping Group J.
Dan James missed Wales’ tie with Liechtenstein on Friday due to an illness, but Rodon scored his first goal for Wales during the game in Cardiff ahead of a trip to face Belgium on Monday.
His header from a corner and general performance level earned him plenty of plaudits, with pundits calling Rodon future Leeds and Wales captain material.
Leeds Joe Rodon wins Man of the Match for Wales against
Rodon wears his heart upon his sleeve, which is reflected in the Welsh media outlook on how he played in the international last night. He collected the highest match rating via Y Clwb Pel-Droed.
On Darlow: “6 – A quiet night for Wales’ number one, who had little to do as Liechtenstein spent the majority of the match camped in their own half.”
On Ampadu: “6 – It was great to see the Leeds United captain back in a red shirt after missing recent camps through a long-term injury. He played a key role in helping the side maintain possession, consistently recycling the ball to support attacking moves.”
On Rodon: “9 – A well-taken header under pressure opened the scoring for Wales five minutes before the break, easing the tension that had been building inside the stadium. A solid display, just what The Red Wall has come to expect from the Leeds United man who got his first goal in a Wales shirt.”
Each player came through the fixture seemingly unscathed, with Ampadu taken off on 64 minutes. They sit on seven points from their three fixtures so far, but with Belgium to face twice in the next five group games.
Rodon was undoubtedly Man of the Match and scored his second of the season after scoring his first for Leeds against Derby County back in December. Rodon admitted his lack of goals has been frustrating.
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Joe Rodon explains his thoughts on his Wales goal and winning the league with Leeds
Speaking to the BBC post-match, Rodon explained his feeling after scoring. The 27-year-old central defender was selfless as usual.
Rodon said: “Yeah, to be fair, it’s been a long time coming. But, of course, it’s not just about me — it’s about the team.
“And I thought we were really dominant today and we started on the front foot. I’m just delighted to come away with the clean sheet and three points.”
Rodon was then asked about a whirlwind few weeks after gaining promotion and now scoring on his 50th start for his country. He added: “It’s been a bit of a ride this season.
“But, like you said, the last couple of months have been an experience I’ll never forget. Can’t wait to push on now and looking forward to Monday.”
Farke has a core to build around next season for Leeds, including Rodon and Ampadu. However, Leeds need to acquire more quality as soon as possible.
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