Versatile star begins to fulfil potential

EARLIER this month, Tottenham star Brennan Johnson responded to an Instagram post featuring Ethan Ampadu with an image of the Rolls Royce badge.

- Chris Dunlavy

"Always a pleasure watching you," he added, reflecting the sentiments of a Leeds fanbase who have watched in growing admiration as Ampadu, whose father Kwame played for the likes of Swansea and Exeter, has performed with class and consistency in two different positions.

The 23-year-old has not missed a single minute of Championship action since completing a £7m move from Chelsea last summer and has recently become the lynchpin of the joint-best defence in the division pre-weekend.

"A top, top performer," said Leeds boss Daniel Farke.

"Even on his bad days, he is a seven out of ten." On one hand, Ampadu's emergence is no surprise.

Snapped up by scouts at Exeter when he was just eight years old, he made his professional debut at 15, joined Chelsea at 16 and won his first Wales cap at 17.

A month later, Antonio Conte handed Ampadu his Premier League bow with a ten-minute substitute appearance for the Blues against Huddersfield.