Ethan Ampadu shuts Pascal Struijk out in the cold at Leeds United
Pascal Struijk may have emerged from the car crash of Premier League relegation season at Leeds United as a vital figure for Daniel Farke this season but he will struggle to even get back into the team once he is fit.
The defender has started 22 of the 23 Championship games he’s played this season, forming a formidable partnership with Tottenham loanee Joe Rodon at centre-back and being handed the captain’s armband by his manager.
But he has now missed the last eight games, including two FA Cup ties, with an “adductor injury” [Leeds Live, 29 December], which is due to keep him out for further weeks still.
While club captain Liam Cooper briefly came in it has been summer signing and regular central midfield starter Ethan Ampadu who has slotted into the back line next to his international teammate, and has now also taken on the armband.
Struijk was hardly slacking when he was in the side, but Ampadu has been widely hailed for his play at the back as the Whites have gone unbeaten in all competitions and moved to within a point of the automatic promotion places, with his ability to find striker Patrick Bamford from a deep position highlighted as a key Leeds United weapon in the current set up.
The Athletic’s Phil Hay said on the Square Ball Podcast on 5 February (19m 20s): “I do wonder when Struijk comes back in two, three, four weeks time, when he’s fit to play again, I do wonder what Farke will do with the centre of his defence.
“I don’t think it’s straight forward decision at the moment to break up that pairing of Rodon and Ampadu, it’s looking really good.”
The BBC’s Adam Pope similarly asked on Don’t Go To Bed Just Yet (5 February, 7m 30s): “Is there a case to say [Ampadu] is second choice [before Struijk]? He’s been so good hasn’t he?
“And the stuff he can do from that position, that long ball to Bamford especially is really destructive to the opposition.”
Farke has embarrassment of riches in Leeds United squad
Previously the main argument for pushing Ampadu out of the way for Struijk when fit would have been to get the Welsh international back into midfield, where he has also been excellent this term since his £7million move from Chelsea [BBC Sport, 19 July].
Yet his absence hasn’t proved an issue as fellow summer signing Ilia Gruev has stepped up next to Glen Kamara and kept everything working fine there, just as the former Rangers man did in place of Archie Gray earlier in the season.
At the same time, the loan signing of Connor Roberts from Burnley on Deadline Day could also now free up the Leeds United teenager, who started the season alongside Ampadu in midfield but has become the first-choice right-back, to return to his preferred position.
All of which suggests, through little fault of his own, Struijk might have gone from the de factor leader of the starting XI on a match day to not having a place in it at all.
He would hardly be alone as the likes of Gruev, Kamara, Willy Gnonto and Bamford have all had to sit and wait their turn this season, but have all gradually been turned to by Farke as required to contribute.
Struijk will surely play again at some point, but as things stand he doesn’t just walk back in on merit and will probably require and injury or suspension to get another shot.
In other Leeds United news, “vultures” are on the way to threaten the Whites according to Paul Robinson.
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