We have been here before with Leeds United in January. Twelve months ago, the foundations of what Daniel Farke would call his ‘Welsh wall’ were being laid. Pascal Struijk was on the treatment table as Ethan Ampadu shuffled back to push Leeds up the league table.
Right-footed, but playing to the left of Joe Rodon, Ampadu eased any of his manager’s nerves about the need for a defensive addition in January 2024. Is that narrative in danger of being repeated now?
While Farke’s midfield lynchpin became a bedrock in defence, the lesser-seen Ilia Gruev became, arguably, the biggest revelation of the campaign. The Bulgarian started once in the first half of the season, but became a mainstay down the home straight, holding the fort in front as Ampadu slotted in behind.
Ampadu’s and Gruev’s fates have been somewhat entwined since they each arrived in that post-relegation summer. While the former quickly established himself, the latter took longer, but they became the team’s heartbeat through the summer and into this season until they both suffered serious knee issues.
They each wildly surpassed recovery expectations and now, with Gruev sticking another 25 minutes on the clock in yesterday’s win over Sheffield Wednesday, look poised to form the side’s spine for the run-in once more. Except, this time, there are meaningful, trustworthy alternatives in midfield. Ao Tanaka, this year’s revelation, and Joe Rothwell have proven they can share the load.
Gruev played the last 25 minutes of the 3-0 win over Sheffield Wednesday (Danny Lawson/Getty Images)
Rothwell unlocked Wednesday inside three minutes with a sumptuous arrow from deep, while Tanaka thundered through the proceedings before a stoppage-time contender for goal of the season. Josuha Guilavogui offers yet another option, but is this a trap? The embarrassment of midfield riches could, for some, soften the blow of using Ampadu as Struijk’s long-term stand-in.
“It’s just different because we’re lacking a little bit the physicality and also the streetwise football and the sharpness in duels of Ethan in midfield, because we don’t have a similar player like him in this area,” Farke said post-match yesterday.
“And on the other hand, with Pascal Struijk, we are also still even a bit bigger and taller and stronger in set pieces, in terms of defending and also attacking. The balance changes a little bit. What should we do? If Pascal Struijk is not available, we need to find some good solutions.”
Pointedly, he added: “I wouldn’t say it’s our solution for the run-in, but we know he can produce good performances together with Joe Rodon. He’s also used to playing with him in this role but, hopefully, there will be some other options soon. I hope Pascal is not too long out.”
Ultimately, this debate is moot if Struijk’s midweek scan shows his hamstring tendon is not damaged. A three-week lay-off makes wise use of Farke’s squad depth, but three months would be a major gamble in central defence. The midfield would cope without Ampadu, if it had to, but an injury to the skipper would devastate what was left of the back line’s heart.
Max Wober, fully fit and firing, is more than good enough for the Championship, but he has been absent from 12 of Farke’s 27 league squads this term. The Austrian’s ongoing knee problems mean he cannot be relied upon. It, plainly, is a risk this club cannot afford to take with a potentially catastrophic summer ahead if it fails to win promotion once more.
Ampadu walked off with Sky Sports’ man of the match gong yesterday. Nobody recovered the ball more than him (seven) and nobody made more clearances (eight including six with his head). The skipper was not perfect. There were one or two loose moments in the first half, but, generally, he was outstanding across set pieces and open play. A clean tackle on Josh Windass from behind, with the striker virtually clean through, stood out in the 19th minute.
The No 4 is a promotion-level centre-back, but the improving picture in midfield must not be used to paper over the cracks of what could quickly become a desperate defensive picture if Struijk is set for a long lay-off. Ampadu has already missed 10 weeks himself this season. He’s not bulletproof.
(Top photo: George Wood/Getty Images)
