Farke dilemma posed with Ampadu at Leeds United amid ‘Exemplary’ Struijk verdict
Leigh Bromby believes Pascal Struijk is a “definite starter” for Leeds United after the “excellent” performances he has put in this season.
The Whites came away from Elland Road on Saturday with all three points to their name after they reigned victorious over relegation candidates Oxford United in a 4-0 win.
Ethan Ampadu was reintroduced to the starting XI for the first time since his injury earlier in the campaign and played the full 90 minutes because Struijk found himself sidelined due to a small knock.
Speaking on the West Yorkshire Sport Daily Show (21 December), former Leeds defender Bromby shared what dilemma Farke may now have in terms of where to fit everyone into his side with the captain back in action.
“Mentioning two mistakes for Pascal [Struijk] that’s probably over the last however many years, he’s been excellent, exemplary,” he said.
“[He] steps into that captaincy when he’s needed and he’s a starter, he’s a definite starter player so how does he [Farke] solve that, it will be interesting to see how that pans out.
“I think moving him [Ethan Ampadu] into midfield [against Oxford], you could feel a difference as well although the two midfielders have done really well.
“You could feel that when Ampadu went in there with the tackles and winning the ball and also the distribution”.
Ethan Ampadu could spur Leeds United on to gain Premier League promotion
When both Ampadu and Ilia Gruev were ruled out for extended periods earlier this season, alarm bells started ringing among the Whites’ camp as well as in their fanbase.
However, thanks to Leeds’ proactive transfers in the summer that saw both Joe Rothwell and Ao Tanaka welcomed to Elland Road, Farke’s men were more than fine.
Now that Ampadu is back, however, the German is faced with a rather large dilemma to try and squeeze him back into his starting XI.
As aforementioned, the form of Rothwell and Tanaka has been impressive this term and neither deserves to lose their spot but as the Welshman is the captain of the team and is arguably one of the West Yorkshire outfit’s best players, one of them will have to make way.
Rothwell didn’t have the best of games against the U’s on Saturday so at the moment, it seems that the on-loan ace will be the one to lose his spot.
Only time will tell what the German chooses to do but if he wants to earn promotion this term, starting Ampadu seems to be the best way for him to do that.
In other Leeds United news, Manchester United want to sign one Whites star after several transfer missions.
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