Ethan Ampadu replacement mistake looming after what Leeds United ace Brenden Aaronson said
Leeds United have found themselves in quite a tough spot due to the recent injuries sustained by Ethan Ampadu and Ilia Gruev.
The Whites now only have two senior defensive-midfield options among their ranks and have been left searching for a solution.
Charlie Crew’s name has been brought into discussion on more than one occasion but at just 18 years old, it seems a bit unfair for Daniel Farke to rely upon the youngster week in and week out.
Farke has also mentioned dipping into the free agent market with Chekhiou Kouyate among the names linked with a potential move [Yorkshire Evening Post, 10 October] to Elland Road.
However, while speaking to American media earlier in the week in quotes summarised by LeedsLive (10 October), Brenden Aaronson has said that he could do a job in the centre of the park if he’s required to do so.
Although the US international is up for the challenge, it feels like it would be a mistake on Leeds’ behalf to try him in Ampadu’s now-vacant role.
Brenden Aaronson is not the answer Leeds United need
Leeds’ season thus far has felt a bit like a rollercoaster with plenty of highs and lows coming along the way.
Aaronson has found himself in something of a redemption arc this season thanks to his solid performances, but, defensively, he’s no match for the absent Welshman.
As per Sofascore, throughout the entirety of the Championship season thus far, Aaronson has only managed to make 0.1 interceptions and 1.3 tackles per game.
Ampadu, on the other hand, has mustered up a total of 0.9 interceptions per game and has doubled the US international’s tackles with an average of 2.6.
These statistics are kind of expected due to the areas of the pitch that each player occupies, however, when comparing the two, it shows how much of a difference there is between them.
In terms of duels won, Aaronson has managed to win 47 per cent of his aerial duels and a mere 39 per cent of those attempted on the ground.
The Welshman has once again trumped the 23-year-old in this department and has won 68 per cent of his attempted ground duels with an even better success rate of 71 per cent in terms of aerial duels.
These statistics are just a select few of those that could have been used but they outline how much of a mistake the Whites would make if they were to use the US international in Ampadu’s role during his 10-week absence [Yorkshire Evening Post, 30 September].
Farke has a lot of decisions to make over the coming weeks but Aaronson being deployed in centre-midfield should already be a chalked-off solution.
In other Leeds news, Graham Smyth has shared what Pascal Struijk said about Illan Meslier’s howler v Sunderland.
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