Wales manager Rob Page has backed Leeds’ Ethan Ampadu to captain his country in the future.

Ampadu signed for Leeds in the summer from Chelsea for a reported initial £7million and having just played 12 games for the Blues after joining them in 2017.

However, this season he has made 42 appearances in all competitions for promotion chasing Leeds, including scoring twice in a 3-0 win at Peterborough in the FA Cup.

Ampadu has started every game bar one this season, an unused substitute for the fourth-round replay at Peterborough.

Such is his influence at Elland Road that manager Daniel Farke has given the 23-year-old the captains armband since mid-January.

Page believes the qualities showcased by Ampadu prove he could lead Wales in the future.

“He’s a future captain, 100%, captain of Leeds, a big club,” said Page.

“He’s a great lad, very humble, doesn’t get carried away with things and he’s a model pro on and off the pitch.

“Leeds wouldn’t have given it to him [the captaincy] if they didn’t think he could cope with it, his performances are consistent week in week out.

“I train with him throughout the year, and he trains how he is during the game. You can’t have half measure through the week and expect to turn it on on a weekend, so he leads by example and credit to him.”

One question still to be answered is how Ampadu will be used by Page in his upcoming Euros qualifiers with the Leeds man’s versatility having seen him play as a centre back and a midfielder.

At the start of the season, Farke used Ampadu as a holding midfielder, but since a 3-0 away win at Cardiff on the 13^th of January, he has been used as a central defender, alongside fellow Wales international Joe Rodon who is on loan from Tottenham Hotspur.

During the time the two have been together at the back, Leeds have kept eight clean sheets from eleven games.

“Ethan and Joe have been exceptional this season,” said Page.

“It’s nice for Ethan as well because he’s at a club where the pressure is slightly different, he’s at the top and I can only imagine they’re looking forward to games and training.

“We’ve always known Ethan can play centre back and I do like him as a centre back, it’s great to have that luxury that he can play more than one position.

“He and Joe have struck up a good partnership keeping clean sheets and of course you’re going to think about it but when I’ve got a three that are playing well and doing okay, I don’t like making changes for the sake of it.”

When possible, Page has typically selected Spurs’ Ben Davies and Bournemouth’s Chris Mepham either side of Rodon in a back three, with Ampadu in midfield.

Recently that has been as part of a holding two with Birmingham’s Jordan James.

“Ethan’s just as good playing as a six in midfield as he is at the back,” said Page.

“I like him as a centre back because he keeps you high up the pitch, you can play a high line and not be worried about if he’s phased about pace in behind because of his athleticism and aggression.

“On the ball as well, we’ve needed that physicality in midfield and him and James have struck up such a strong partnership.”

If Ampadu does feature against Finland on Thursday, he will earn his 50^th international cap and become the youngest Welshman to reach that milestone.

“It seems like he’s been around forever because of the age he was when he got his debut,” said Page.

“He didn’t come through me and the u21s, he was already in the senior team, that’s why he’s getting his 50^th cap now.

“But he’s a good lad first and foremost and ever since I’ve worked with him I’ve loved everything about him.”