Leeds United: Burnley defender Connor Roberts sends message to Ethan Ampadu amid Elland Road transfer links
Burnley defender Connor Roberts sent a one-word message to Ethan Ampadu on social media in response to the Leeds United ace skippering the side in their victory at Peterborough United.
Ampadu was named captain for the day at The Weston Homes Stadium on Sunday (7 January) as Leeds ran out comfortable 3-0 winners in the FA Cup third-round tie.
The 23-year-old marked the occasion with his first two goals in a Leeds shirt, coming either side of Patrick Bamford’s Goal of the Season contender.
Ampadu posted an image of him celebrating on his personal Instagram page [7 January], to which Wales international team-mate Roberts responded: “Skipdog”.
The short message comes on the back of Roberts being touted as a possible January target for Leeds [Darren Witcoop, 5 January].
Captain’s credentials
Due to Pascal Struijk being ruled out, plus Liam Cooper and Luke Ayling being named among the substitutes, Ampadu was next in line to captain the side.
Despite his young age, Ampadu has plenty of experience and oozes many qualities of a captain, which were clear to see in the victory against Peterborough.
The Welshman more than stepped up as he scored his first goal for the club, with a second following later in the game. Incredibly, that doubled his goals tally for his entire senior career to date.
A number of players commented on the post, but Roberts’ name generated the most interest in terms of replies. The defender has been linked with a switch to Elland Road following the cancelation of Djed Spence’s loan deal.
Roberts is another player with plenty of Premier League and international experience, and it is fair to say he would fit right in as Ampadu and fellow compatriots Joe Rodon and Daniel James are already in the dressing room.
Whether or not the deal happens, we will soon see. But if Ampadu could put in a good word – as any good captain would – then Leeds’ hopes of striking a deal may be boosted.
In other Leeds United news, Adam Pope slammed a Whites player for his “embarrassing” performance against Peterborough.