Sheffield United manager Chris Wilder discusses Ethan Ampadu's position following Frank Lampard's sacking by Chelsea

The loan agreement which saw Ethan Ampadu join Sheffield United from Chelsea at the beginning of the season will not be affected by Frank Lampard’s sacking at Stamford Bridge, Chris Wilder has confirmed.
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Ampadu, who is expected to make his 17th appearance for Wilder’s side when they travel to Manchester United tomorrow night, was told he would be spending the entire Premier League campaign at Bramall Lane after leaving west London in September.

With Thomas Tuchel poised to be officially unveiled as Lampard’s successor, there had been suggestions Ampadu would be recalled in order to allow the former Mainz, Borussia Dortmund and Paris St Germain head coach to perform a comprehensive review of the options at his disposal.

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But apeaking ahead of the visit to Old Trafford, Wilder told The Star: “There’s no call back with Ethan. There’s no break clause in that deal. He’ll be staying with us.”

Ethan Ampadu in action for Sheffield United: Simon Bellis/SportimageEthan Ampadu in action for Sheffield United: Simon Bellis/Sportimage
Ethan Ampadu in action for Sheffield United: Simon Bellis/Sportimage

Ampadu, aged 20, joined United soon after they had finished ninth in the table last season. But a combination of factors, including injuries, loss of form and the revised fixture schedule have brutally exposed the flaws of a squad which still contains five veterans of their 2017 League One title winning campaign. United prepared to cross the Pennines at the bottom of the rankings and 12 points adrift of safety after winning only once in the competition this term. Their opponents reached the halfway stage of their fixture programme in first place; two points ahead of neighbours Manchester City, who host United this weekend.

“Ethan won’t be enjoying the situation we are in, the same as nobody else here isn’t,” Wilder said. “But his attitude has been great.

“He won’t be enjoying it and he possibly wouldn’t have expected it either. But I’ve sat down with all the young players and told them there is so much for them to gain from all of this. They’ll look back on this period later in their careers and, so long as they continue to do the right things, realise they gained so much from it. It will make them stronger and better, so long as they keep the right attitude.”

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