Leeds United are set to be without club captain Ethan Ampadu until the new year after he suffered a significant knee injury at the end of September. Daniel Farke’s squad has been hit hard by injuries in recent weeks, with Ampadu’s absence being the most notable blow. The Welshman has been sidelined since a tough tackle in the match against Coventry City, leaving a void in Leeds’ midfield as they continue their Championship campaign.
It’s undoubtedly frustrating for Ethan Ampadu to be sidelined not only from Leeds United’s league action but also from international duty, especially after recently reaching the 50-cap milestone for Wales. When his injury was confirmed, Daniel Farke gave a recovery timescale of 10 weeks, meaning Ampadu is expected to be out of competitive action until the new year, with a return to training slated for December.
When asked about his rehabilitation progress, Ampadu offered the following update (via the YEP):
Ethan Ampadu provided an optimistic update on his recovery, saying, “It’s going well. Recovery can have its ups and downs, but I feel like it’s gone fairly well at the moment. There’s still some time and healing that needs to be done, but it’s going well. I am happy about it and quite positive, so the sooner, obviously, for me personally, the better. But it’s about doing it right.”
There is hope that, given Ethan Ampadu’s robust nature, he could return to the Leeds United squad sooner than expected, potentially even before 2025. If it were up to him, the Swansea City trip after the international break would be the target for his comeback. However, Ampadu has acknowledged that he’s not quite there yet, and the focus remains on making sure he returns fully fit.
When asked about the possibility of an early return, Ethan Ampadu responded with cautious optimism:“
I hope as soon as possible. But I don’t want to rush it as well. I want to be playing, if I could, the Swansea game, but maybe it’s not right for my knee to do that, so I just have to wait and see. I don’t really want to put a time schedule on it. As quick as possible, but when it’s right.”
Rushing Ethan Ampadu back to fitness would be a serious mistake, as the last thing Leeds United need is a re-injury. Ampadu deserves the time he needs to fully recover and return to his peak fitness. In the meantime, Ao Tanaka and Joe Rothwell have proven to be more than capable in midfield, while Josuha Guilavogui offers added depth and protection in front of the back four. With this buffer, Leeds have sufficient cover until Ampadu is fully ready to return.