Alan Shearer has included Junior Firpo in his Premier League Team of the Week after the Leeds United defender started only his fourth League game of the season on Saturday – scoring the only goal of the game to beat Southampton 1-0.
Firpo, 26, has endured a difficult time since joining Leeds in the summer of 2021 from Barcelona. Injuries and a lack of confidence have hampered the player’s time at Elland Road. But, he is now showing the form that was expected of him.
The Leeds defender has started three games in a row because of Pascal Struijk’s concussion. Realistically, Struijk’s form had dipped and it might have been that he would have come in to the side anyway – even if Struijk was available.
Firpo was excellent against Southampton and Shearer heaped praise on the Leeds defender: “Playing because Pascal Struijk was unavailable, he grabbed the opportunity with a crucial goal and clean sheet against Southampton.”
Alan Shearer includes Leeds defender Junior Firpo in Team of the Week
He was superb and what is encouraging for us Leeds fans, is that he seems to suit Javi Gracia’s system. With Jesse Marsch it was a case o getting players forward, but the American did not want his side to play with too much width.
The 4-2-3-1 system that Gracia deployed saw Leeds show much more width – the wingers becoming slightly inverted and the full-backs utilising that space. Luke Ayling had a chance in the first few moments of the game, blazing over.
Firpo is renowned for his attacking game over his defensive work. Under Gracia, he might be one of the players to most benefit with the appointment of the ex-Watford boss. Struijk may return to find himself on the substitutes bench.
It is likely that he continues in his role on the left side of defence on Tuesday night, when Leeds travel to London to take on Fulham at Craven Cottage, in the fifth round of the FA Cup. Leeds will be hopeful of progressing.
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