Daniel Farke has a core group of players who are irreplaceable in his starting lineup, with Dan James praising one of them as “unbelievable” both on and off the field.

Illan Meslier remains the undisputed number one goalkeeper for Leeds, while Joe Rodon and Pascal Struijk are solid fixtures in defense, despite the return of Max Wober.

Junior Firpo leads the Championship in assists in 2024 and even new signing Isaac Schmidt faces a tough challenge to displace him. Meanwhile, Ethan Ampadu is a constant presence in midfield, with Farke facing a dilemma on who to pair him with given the recent addition of Ao Tanaka and the impressive form of Ilia Gruev.

James commended Ethan Ampadu for his calm demeanor and leadership qualities, as the Leeds captain continues to impress on and off the pitch. Ampadu’s consistency has earned him the armband for both club and country, highlighting his natural ability to lead.

After a commanding performance in Leeds’ recent victory, Ampadu displayed his leadership by promoting new signings in front of the fans post-match. His captaincy qualities are evident in his actions both on and off the field, making him a strong candidate to lead Leeds for years to come.