Ethan Ampadu shares verdict on Leeds United sensation Archie Gray at Thorp Arch
Ethan Ampadu has been wowed by the progress of midfielder Archie Gray at Leeds United this season.
Speaking to the Yorkshire Evening Post on Friday (22 December), the Welsh international said the 17-year-old is looking “very promising” as he discussed how well his teammate has performed since breaking into the first team at Elland Road.
The 23-year-old midfielder revealed that the England U-20 international is his own biggest critic, adding that the teenager will say he still has “a long way to go” as he looks to continue his development.
“He’s done alright hasn’t he?” said Ampadu. “He’s done very well. I don’t think you need me or anyone to sit here and say how well he has done.
“But he’ll tell you himself, he is his biggest critic. He’ll tell you himself that he has a long way to go, he’s still got a lot of hard work to do. But from the start of it, it is looking very promising. He has been very good so far this season and long may that continue.”
Keep pushing
It will be nice for Gray to hear how highly Ampadu thinks of him after nailing down a place in the Leeds first team, having made his debut on the opening day of this season against Cardiff City.
The midfielder, who has been playing at right-back over the past couple of months, has emerged as one of the first names on the teamsheet under Daniel Farke, making 21 starts in his 23 appearances during this campaign.
But the teenager is clearly not entirely satisfied with the huge progress he’s made as he looks to continue improving his game.
There is plenty of excitement around Gray at Elland Road following his performances, but they have also attracted interest from a number of European football’s biggest clubs.
That means the Whites are going to have a job on their hands in persuading him that his immediate future is best off being served in West Yorkshire, where he is almost guaranteed a place in the starting lineup.
In other Leeds United news, Patrick Bamford has shared what the Whites players are doing after the Ipswich game.