The Welsh midfielder sprayed a gorgeous long pass down the left flank for the advancing full-back on November 3. Only Ricardo Pereira’s last-ditch interception thwarted a dangerous opportunity, and the Sky Sports pundit responded live on the match commentary during the first quarter of an hour.
Goodman was all over the “excellent” Welsh international’s Whites all-around performance, but he was especially delighted with the range he showed from the start at the King Power.
Goodman stated at 8:13 p.m.: “He’s been fantastic. He mentioned looking for a place to live earlier this week. You require a base and a place to live at times.
“He is aware that he won’t be leaving on loan, and hopefully Leeds United will be able to keep him for a very long time.”
“Not only is he positionally excellent in terms of interceptions and tackles when they don’t have the ball, but he can also do things like this.”
“Identifies the run, a brilliant ball.”
Money’s worth
If he maintains his current form, the first summer acquisition from Chelsea for £7 million [BBC Sport, July 7] may well end up being Leeds United’s best purchase of the season, if not the entire Championship.
While he might not have the same attention-grabbing energy as Georginio Rutter or Crysencio Summerville, he is just as significant to Daniel Farke.
He has proven that by being a constant presence in the league this season, and both his attacking and defensive contributions are vital.
Ampadu has secured down a position that was beginning to appear problematic, given that he signed at a time when all of the senior midfield alternatives from the previous season had left and the only available teenager at the time was teenaged Archie Gray, who had not yet made his first-team debut.
There hasn’t been much cause for concern in the middle of the lineup thanks to Glen Kamara’s arrival and Gray’s ascent to prominence.
Ampadu, whom Farke hasn’t dared to remove from the team in the Championship, is where it all begins, even though the other two have rotated and fellow new addition Ilia Gruev has also been given a chance.