Crowbarring Ethan Ampadu, Ao Tanaka and Joe Rothwell into the same Leeds United team is one of those quality problems Daniel Farke could not have dreamed about in October. When he discovered the severity of Ilia Gruev’s knee injury, four days after losing his captain until 2025, the manager had to concede a free agent would be needed to salvage his engine room.

There was angst about how Tanaka and Rothwell, better known as attacking central midfielders, would work as a double pivot with immense defensive responsibilities. And all this with a grand total of 308 Championship minutes between since the start of the season.

Josuha Guilavogui was recruited to ensure Charlie Crew would not be thrown in at the deep end if, God forbid, Rothwell or Tanaka were struck down or suspended. We are more than 10 weeks on from those dark days and the Anglo-Japanese pairing has been formidable.

While his replacements have flourished, Ampadu has been using untold powers of recovery to bring himself back into the squad at least a month ahead of schedule. A late December training return might have been expected ahead of some tentative January action, but the skipper already has two substitute appearances.

The great dilemma this miraculous development creates is getting them all on the field in their best positions at the same time. Ampadu, as captain, will start ahead of anyone in this squad when he is sharp enough.

Farke has anointed the number four his most important player and that kind of comment is not made lightly by the German. So, unless Joe Rodon or Pascal Struijk vacate a defensive berth, Ampadu will be starting in midfield, though Farke does not have to rush this comeback.

When push comes to shove, one of Rothwell or Tanaka seems destined to move out of the way. The latter has arguably been better over the long term, but the former’s recent displays have been hard to ignore.

This is all set against the backdrop of Brenden Aaronson’s struggle to deliver goal involvements in the final third. The American has been one of the biggest underperformers over several weeks, but Farke admires his work rate, tenacity, pressing and anticipation, even if the goals and assists aren’t flowing.

Pushing Tanaka or Rothwell, described as attacking-minded midfielders by Farke in their early days at Elland Road, into that pocket behind the striker is one solution. After the recent Derby County win, Farke was asked about that kind of experiment.

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“We have tried it also in a few games,” he said. “When Joe came in, in the number 10 role, also, in the beginning, today, we wanted to change the setup a little bit [with] Max [Wober] a bit building up out of a deeper position to push Joe a bit higher up the pitch.

“I have to say he feels a bit more comfortable when he has the game in front of him and plays his passes and switches the play. He can perhaps help for a few minutes or one game when there's an injury on the number 10 role.

“Actually, he has many skills that are important for this role, but you feel he's always a bit more comfortable when he can control the game, just a bit more involved, instead of playing always with the back to the opponent's goal, in between lines. Also in training a bit [of] the same feeling with Ao Tanaka.”

It would seem that Farke will only pursue this course of action as a last resort. Injuries or suspensions would need to occur for one of them to be used that far forward.

“They are perhaps a potential solution if we need to do this on the number 10 role, but I wouldn't say the perfect, natural solution,” he said. “If needed, then, yes, I'm also sure they try everything to chip in like this.

“Same like Max did today, not on his number one position, number one position for him is centre-back, but he was also excellent after coming in, in the full-back position today. [He] chipped in with an important goal and this is what we need.

“When we have a few injury problems or players who are out of form, or there is something or a booking or being suspended, then we need players to deliver on different positions. That's what I would also ask Ao and Joe Rothwell if needed in a higher position.”