"I don't believe Leeds will rush" - Pundit shares view on Ethan Ampadu situation after fresh Daniel Farke insight | OneFootball

Carlton Palmer is excited about the prospect of Ethan Ampadu returning to action for Daniel Farke and Leeds United.

Carlton Palmer has urged Leeds United to be careful with Ethan Ampadu, who is set to be back ahead of schedule according to manager Daniel Farke, but Palmer believes the midfielder could be like a January signing.

After damaging his lateral knee ligaments, the Welsh international was forced off just before half-time against Coventry City and was replaced by Ao Tanaka. Farke then confirmed in his pre-Norwich City press conference that the knee injury that Ampadu sustained against the Sky Blues would rule him out until close to January.

"Ethan, it’s a serious knee injury, he’s damaged his lateral ligament," said Farke, via the Yorkshire Evening Post. "The doctors have recommended conservative treatment so doesn’t need surgery, but it’s difficult to predict how long he’ll be out. Ten weeks until he’s back in team training.

"You have to expect there will be injuries, have to hope for a little bit of luck. Ethan is our captain, one of our most important players. He is a key piece for balance between defensive stability and offense. It’s a big blow he’s not available but you have to adapt to it."

Leeds' captain played in 63 games last season for Farke's side and his country, Wales, proving to be a consistent figure for both sides. It's a huge blow for the remainder of the games in 2024 potentially. Not only is he captain and one of the first names on the teamsheet, but a case could be made that he is Leeds' most influential player.

Ampadu missed just one game in the entirety of the club's play-off campaign, but the current prognosis is positive, which him likely to be back in full training some time in December. It's unclear how long he will need to build fitness again but Farke has revealed he is "carefully optimistic" that Ampadu will return to full fitness ahead of schedule.

It would be a major boost for Farke to get his club-captain back out on the pitch, and Farke told the Yorkshire Evening Post that Ampadu could be back before January, which had been the initial expectation.

"He's working hard, already doing some running. It will be a while before he can join us in team training, he's even a bit ahead of schedule. I'm carefully optimistic he can return to team training a bit earlier. We will see.

"Normally it would be realistic to be back in training in the middle of December and then available in the beginning of January. It would be nice if he can help us already a bit earlier and sooner because he's our captain and a versatile player.

"We would love to have him back but we won't rush it. It was a serious injury. He's a bit ahead but let's see how it develops. So far each day it was better and it looks really good but it's too soon to judge when he can help us again."

Carlton Palmer's verdict on Ethan Ampadu's rehabilitation at Leeds United

Ex-England international and former Leeds man Carlton Palmer is hoping that Ampadu's return can be like a new signing for Farke and Leeds fans alike, especially now that he is ahead of schedule and able to return for more games than expected.

Speaking exclusively to Football League World, he said: "It's great news for Leeds United and Leeds supporters that Ethan Ampadu, the club captain, had a really serious injury but his rehabilitation is supposed to be going well.

"It's believed to be ahead of schedule. They are in the race for automatic promotion, and Daniel Farke is doing a remarkable job given the long-term injuries he's had at the football club.

"However, Ampadu, Farke says they will take no chances with. Remember, it's a long season, and we don't know what's going to happen, and we know it's going to be a strong league.

"We know it's turning out to be a strong league now; Burnley are going to be right up there and we know Sheffield United are going to be right up there.

"We know Sunderland are leading the charge at the moment, with West Bromwich Albion, Middlesbrough, and others coming strong.

"We know it's going to be a long season, so if you can get him back for the last months of the season, fit and firing, then it will be like having a January transfer signing.

"He's going to be careful with him, because you know what happens when you've had long-term injuries and you've had rehab, there is always a chance of a bit of a setback.

"It's normal in this case. Leeds, as I say, are going great guns at the moment. They will look at this say, 'right, listen, let's try and get him back hopefully by mid-December'.

"Then, he may be back available fully by the middle-to-the-end of January, so that would be like a January signing.

"It would be absolutely fantastic, but they've got to make it spot on, and I don't believe Leeds will rush on getting him back and risking losing him until the end of the season."

Ethan Ampadu's importance to Leeds United

Leeds signed Ampadu last summer for a fee rising to £10 million with add-ons, but he has been nothing short of outstanding and Leeds got themselves a bargain when they paid an initial fee of just £7 million which could rise to the upper limit with performance-related add-ons.

He is already arguably the club's best player after becoming such a consistent and durable figure in their engine room. You wouldn't know that he'd played almost every game last season given the quality, consistency, and relentlessness of his displays.

However, his remarkable run in the side has now ended, and the club have since done well without Ampadu, with Joe Rothwell and Ao Tanaka forming an excellent partnership in the middle of the park for the most part. At least now, in contrast to last season, they have some sort of cover in one position for the usually ever-present Ampadu.

Jsouha Guilavogui has helped in that regard, especially with Ilia Gruev out injured with an even more serious knee issue. Farke will have plenty of depth and options by the time Ampadu is back up to full speed. He brings plenty to the side in terms of both his own attributes and quality, as well as the intangible traits needed for a promotion charge.