Leeds United’s push for automatic promotion has hit a significant hurdle, with the team needing to find a way to win without Ethan Ampadu. The versatile Welsh international has been ruled out for 10 weeks due to a left knee ligament injury.

Although Leeds manager Daniel Farke has confirmed Ampadu will not require surgery, the midfielder’s injury – sustained during a robust challenge with Coventry City's Ben Sheaf – means he is unlikely to play again this year. Farke told the local press today: “It’s a serious knee injury, he has damaged his lateral ligament. The doctors have recommended conservative treatment, so he doesn’t need surgery.

“It’s difficult to predict exactly how long he will be out, but it’s realistic to expect about 10 weeks before he can return to team training. We expect him to be back on the pitch sometime in January.”

Leeds United return to action tomorrow night, travelling to Norwich City. In Ampadu's absence, can centre-back Pascal Struijk step up and further demonstrate his leadership qualities?

“Last season saw a big step forward in his leadership skills and personality,” said Farke. “Throughout this season, he has been a key player and leader, delivering fantastic performances. He could contribute with goals from penalties and set-pieces. It's even more important for him to deliver now, though I don’t expect him to do anything different from what he’s done in recent weeks.”

Ampadu’s injury not only rules him out of Wales' remaining Nations League matches against Turkey, Montenegro, and Iceland during the October and November international breaks, but the 24-year-old will also miss more than a dozen league matches for Leeds United. Below is the list of their fixtures for the rest of the year:

October

• Norwich City (A)

• Sunderland (A)

• Sheffield United (H)

• Watford (H)

• Bristol City (A)

November

• Plymouth Argyle (H)

• Millwall (A)

• Queens Park Rangers (H)

• Swansea City (A)

• Luton Town (H)

• Blackburn Rovers (A)

December

• Derby County (H)

• Middlesbrough (H)

• Preston North End (A)

• Oxford United (H)

• Stoke City (A)

• Derby County (A)