'I decided' - Leeds United snub explained as Ethan Ampadu leapfrogs into XI

Aerial prowess, defensive steel, strength, leadership and battle-hardened Championship experience saw Ethan Ampadu leapfrog into Leeds United’s right-back slot on Tuesday. Some eyebrows were raised when the skipper not only returned to the fray 10 weeks after his knee injury, but in a position we have never seen him before.

With the Whites 2-1 up at Elland Road and a threatening Middlesbrough side chasing an equaliser, Farke turned to his captain in the 85th minute. The number four took the armband and replaced Sam Byram, who was suffering some cramping, on the right of defence.

Ampadu has played on the right of a back three for Leeds on the rare occasions Farke has deployed that formation, but it was unusual to see him as an out-and-out full-back. It was even more surprising because Farke had overlooked his natural full-back cover on the bench, Isaac Schmidt.

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The Swiss had already been bypassed for a start by Byram, following Jayden Bogle’s injury, but had to watch on as Ampadu got on for his first game since injury. Farke would later explain why he made that call.

“First of all, we were in the lead and then, also, the quality of the opponent and also the story of the game,” he said. “They had to chase the game.

“It was also important we started the game a bit more with defensively strong full-backs. They went forward, but Max Wober and Sam Byram are defensively strong.

“Isaac, for example, has more of his strengths in going forward. That's why he also comes quite often in as a winger and, for the last moments, I wanted, first of all, the defensive qualities of Ethan Ampadu.

“He has also played in many games [as a] centre-back for us. Also, his strength in terms of headers for set-pieces, his physicality, his leadership and also, in such a tight game, someone who was involved in many battles in English football and also in the Championship.

“For that, I decided to bring my captain on and Isaac more in an advanced role later on in the last minutes of the game.”