All 96 words Dan James said about Ethan Ampadu ahead of key Wales decision
Dan James has tipped Leeds teammate Ethan Ampadu for the Wales captaincy.
Leeds have four players representing Wales in their World Cup qualifiers against Liechtenstein and North Macedonia.
Wales are without Aaron Ramsey and Ben Davies, who have shared the armband in recent months, so the Elland Road star could take on the role.
He would definitely be ready for it, given that he has skippered the Whites in several key moments in recent years.
What did Dan James say about Ethan Ampadu?
Ampadu is surely a contender to take on the Wales captaincy, given his experience in Yorkshire.
James believes that his captain at club level would be the perfect choice for Craig Bellamy for the upcoming matches, as a result of his time in LS11.
Speaking in a press conference on 12 November, he said: “He’s obviously been an incredible captain for us for Leeds United, I think you always, a lot of people forget how young Ethan is, he’s been around for so long
“He’s still young, but he’s a great leader on and off the pitch.
“It’s not my choice, but as I said, he’s been incredible for Leeds, and I think he would suit that role perfectly because it’s not a new role for him.
“He understands the roles and responsibilities from it, so it’s not like it’s any added pressure for him, he’s quite used to it.”
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How can Leeds stars qualify for the World Cup with Wales?
Ampadu and James are joined in the squad by Joe Rodon and Karl Darlow, and the Peacocks aces will be hoping to qualify for the 2026 World Cup.
- Ampadu has earned 58 caps for his country so far
- James has 59 caps for the Welsh national team
- Darlow has 10 caps, while Rodon has 56 appearances on the international stage
Only the group winners qualify for the competition automatically from the group, and Belgium are out in front in Group J, needing a win against Kazakhstan to seal top spot.
The second team in the group will go into the play-offs in March, Wales are currently in third, but could overtake North Macedonia this month.
If they fail to do so, the Dragons may still qualify for the play-offs, as they won their UEFA Nations League group and the four best group winners from that competition will be there.
Therefore, it looks like James, Ampadu and Co. have a bit more work to do before they get to the tournament, but hopefully they can reach it.
If they fail, it will be not be the worst outcome for the Whites, as they will get a summer of rest, but from a personal perspective, it would be a huge career milestone.
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