Not only could Leeds United be without Ethan Ampadu on Tuesday night due to illness, but Daniel Farke has delivered more bad news ahead of the clash against Sunderland on another two key players.
Leeds go into Tuesday night’s outing against The Black Cats after losing to Coventry on Saturday. A loss that sees Leeds fall out of the top two places, with Ipswich and Leicester sitting above Farke’s men.
Leicester beat Birmingham late on on Saturday, meaning they have gone top of the table with a game in hand. Ipswich sit second, a point ahead of us, but having played the same amount of games, 41 in total.
Daniel Farke could be without more Leeds player after Ampadu
Farke told his press conference on Monday that Ethan Ampadu is suffering with illness and may need to sit out Tuesday night’s clash – the first time he will have done so for the entire season since joining us.
The bad news did not stop there. Farke says that he had to take both Willy Gnonto and Connor Roberts out of training on Sunday due to tiredness or muscle fatigue – raising doubts over their availability.
He told his presser, as per the club’s YouTube channel on Monday afternoon: “Have to be careful with Roberts. Felt something late in the game. Took him out of training yesterday, no new injury, precaution.
“Same with Gnonto – muscle tired. Probably available, but can’t say if more minutes than Saturday. Not ready for 90 minutes until Middlesbrough,” Farke said, having included Gnonto in the squad on Saturday.
How could we line-up without Roberts, Ampadu or Gnonto?
Phil Hay said the “easy change” to make is starting Wales star Roberts on the right of defence, replacing Glen Kamara in the middle for Archie Gray. Kamara came off at half-time on Saturday, against Coventry.
Farke recently said the Finland star has been struggling with illness himself of late, and played through it. But if Kamara is still feeling rough, and Roberts is out, how could Leeds line-up? Jamie Shackleton, maybe.
It could be that Gray is moved into midfield, Shackleton comes in on the right of defence. Liam Cooper is the obvious replacemrent for Ampdu, and Dan James continues ahead of Gnonto. Significantly weakened.