Leeds United captain Ethan Ampadu will be forced to walk a tightrope against Manchester City, after Daniel Farke confirmed a double injury blow.
Ethan Ampadu has been a near ever-present in the Leeds midfield this season, having played the full 90 minutes in all but two of the 10 Premier League games he has started. He has missed just two games through injury.
However, Daniel Farke will be forced to reshuffle the deck in midfield for the game against Manchester City, as he deals with a double injury blow for Leeds.
Anton Stach was substituted during the first half against Aston Villa and will miss the trip to the Etihad as he follows concussion protocols. Sean Longstaff is set for a longer absence after picking up a calf injury, which could rule him out until the new year.
Now, Ampadu risks adding to Farke’s midfield woes, with the midfielder staring down the barrel of a suspension, as Leeds enter their most difficult run of fixtures to date this season.
Daniel Farke’s pre-Man City press conference
Ethan Ampadu walking a disciplinary tightrope for Leeds United
By picking up a booking in Leeds’ defeat against Aston Villa, Ampadu took his tally for the season to date to four.
As a result, the Leeds captain is just one more caution away from picking up a one-match suspension, as Leeds manage a potential availability crisis in their midfield.
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According to the Premier League website, Ampadu must avoid a caution in his next seven games, as suspensions apply to any player who picks up five bookings in the first 19 games of the season.
With Ampadu averaging one yellow card every 2.5 games, it seems unlikely that he will be able to avoid the suspension.
In a small silver lining for Leeds, Stach could return to team training ahead of the game against Chelsea to ease Farke’s crisis. However, if he does not recover in time and Ampadu is booked against Man City, Leeds could be down to the bare bones in midweek.
Daniel Farke shares details of Sean Longstaff’s injury
Daniel Farke may be forced to turn to the Leeds United academy to cover in midfield
With Ampadu facing a potential one-match ban, Longstaff definitely ruled out of the Christmas period, and Stach doubtful for Chelsea, an area of the Leeds squad that was previously a strength now looks weak.
As a result, Farke may be forced to put his faith in the Leeds United Academy to help plug the gaps in his increasingly threadbare squad.
Jonny Howson after Carlisle United v Leeds United play-off
Photo by Matthew Lewis/Getty Images
Thankfully for the Leeds boss, Ollie Pickles’ two goals in midweek showed that there is a midfielder in the Leeds squad who is in form.
However, if Farke wants a more experienced back-up, he could elect to add veteran midfielder Jonny Howson to his squad, after it was confirmed that he was registered as part of Leeds’ 25-man squad for the season.
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