BBC pundit says 27-year-old Leeds player is ‘a mile off it’ right now

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Jon Newsome has issued his verdict on the performance of Junior Firpo after Leeds United knocked Peterborough United out of the FA Cup on Sunday.

Junior Firpo returned to the starting lineup for the trip to the Weston Homes Stadium. Of course, Leeds fans would have been fearful given the club’s poor recent record in the FA Cup, coupled with the fact that Daniel Farke made a number of changes.

Firpo provided two assists in the win over Birmingham. And with Sam Byram currently sidelined with injury and Djed Spence seeing his loan cut short, it does appear that the 27-year-old has an opportunity to stamp his authority on a spot in the side right now.

Junior Firpo criticised after Leeds win

Leeds managed to keep a clean sheet. And Firpo arguably did fairly well up against Kwame Poku. Nevertheless, it seems that not everyone was impressed by the former Barcelona man.

Speaking on BBC Radio Leeds, Jon Newsome was disappointed by Firpo’s display against the League One side.

“It’s really hard and really difficult to argue against that statement. I scratch my head and wonder where and how a player who just lacks any conviction as a defender, just basic defending or defensive skills, has played in the Premier League and been bought for so much money by this football club. And he’s been paid so much money. And for me, I think he’s a mile off. He really is a mile off it. He’s a very, very lucky lad,” he said.

Left-back has plenty of work to do if he wants to silence doubters

The problem is Firpo has found things so tricky at Leeds. He has been written off a number of times, struggling for the large majority of his time in the Premier League.

Firpo did have a better spell during the second-half of last season, scoring the winner against Southampton at one stage. However, Leeds were in a real mess shortly after. And the left-back ended up getting sent off in the draw with Newcastle late on in the campaign.

He is still working his way back towards full sharpness having been injured and having been behind Byram and Spence in the pecking order since returning.

So he does deserve more time before he is judged this season. But clearly, he has huge amounts to do to win over some of his critics.