Ampadu in frame to captain Wales

In March 2024 Ethan Ampadu became the youngest Welshman to reach 50 caps aged 23 years, six months and eight days

International friendly: Gibraltar v Wales

Venue: Estadio Algarve, Algarve, Portugal Date: Thursday, 6 June Kick-off: 17:00 BST

Coverage: Live commentary on BBC Radio Wales MW, Radio Wales Extra, BBC Radio Cymru, BBC Sport website & app; follow live text commentary on BBC Sport website.

Highlights: BBC Two Wales from 22:00 BST and later on demand.

Leeds United's Ethan Ampadu is in pole position to wear the captain’s arm band at least once in this week’s Wales friendlies.

Wales skipper Aaron Ramsey has not travelled with the squad ahead of Thursday’s friendly with Gibraltar, in Portugal.

And though Tottenham Hotspur defender Ben Davies is in the squad, injury is likely to prevent him from featuring against Gibraltar or against Slovakia, on Sunday.

Versatile Ampadu, who has already accumulated 51 caps at the age of just 23, becomes the most experienced player in the party.

And Wales manager Robert Page admitted: “We will definitely be looking at Ethan.”

Page has already earmarked former Chelsea player Ampadu as a likely long term leader of the national team.

The Wales manager added: “You look at the players we have in the squad and we are spoilt a little bit aren’t we, even with the younger ones now who have experience.

“Joe Rodon is playing the best football of his career in my opinion. Ethan is definitely captaincy material and he is definitely one for us in the future as well.”

It is easy to see why Ampadu is such a stand-out candidate to take the armband more permanently for his country in the near future.

The son of former Swansea City player Kwame Ampadu, he has already packed a lot into his short career. He became the youngest debutant for Exeter City before being whisked away to Stamford Bridge in 2017.

"Ethan is incredible as a person as well," said Page.

"You see his interviews at the end of games and he is a gentleman, he absolutely is."

While at Chelsea, Ampadu became the first player born in the 2000s to play for their first team.

He was subsequently sent out on loans to RB Leipzig, Sheffield United, Venezia and Spezia before making a permanent move to Leeds for over £7m last summer.

Page added: “He is not afraid to go and experience different cultures and different leagues. He has gone to Germany, he has gone to Italy, he played in the Premiership, that has made him the person he is today. In my opinion I think it has made him robust.

“It is a stat that of all European footballers, he has played the most minutes this season. That does not surprise me because he is always available, whether in the centre of midfield or centre-back.

“With the class and quality of the player, you want him in the team every minute. That is why he has the armband at Leeds as well.”

Ampadu's Leeds team-mates Rodon and Connor Roberts have both withdrawn from the Wales squad for the two friendly internationals, having featured in Leeds’ Championship play-off final defeat by Southampton.

Dan James, who was also in the Leeds side at Wembley, is still available and Page has no doubts he and Ampadu will be ready for Wales duty this week.

“They will be bitterly disappointed finishing off the season in the manner they did," said Page.

"Potentially going up automatically and having to deal with the play-offs is always hard and then to get to the final and lose it... But they are good lads.

"They are strong mentally and as disappointed as they will be, they will be in the right frame of mind ready to go.”