Junior Firpo admits he has not yet hit his Leeds United target despite an ‘incredible season’

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With promotion back to the Premier League in the bag, attention at Leeds United is turning to the Championship title race.

Burnley’s 5-0 trouncing of Queens Park Rangers in Saturday’s early kick-off means Daniel Farke’s team will go into the Monday night clash with Bristol City three points adrift.

But pick up yet another home win and, considering the massive advantage they have in terms of goal difference, Leeds United will head into the final matchday with their fate in their own hands. A second Championship title in five years within their grasp.

There are, meanwhile, a couple of players who have individual targets to aim at between now and full-time at Home Park on May 3rd.

Joel Piroe wants to end the campaign on 20 goals. After Piroe became the first Leeds player to score four goals in one half of football last time out during the 6-0 shellacking of Stoke City, he is now just one away from hitting his target.

For Junior Firpo, a solitary assist will do.

Junior Firpo reveals he is yet to hit his Leeds United target

The former Barcelona left-back wants to end the campaign with 15 ‘goal contributions’ next to his name. Firpo claims to be on 14 at the moment.

Clearly, he is not giving up on claiming QPR effort – Firpo’s shot bundled into his own net by Morgan Fox during March’s 2-2 draw – for himself.

“I think it’s been an incredible season,” Firpo tells Marca. “And that’s despite [me] missing a third of the season. I was injured and suspended, and all that.

“I set a goal for myself before the season, which was 15 goal involvements. I think I’m at 14, having missed a third of the season.

“I think that’s pretty good.”

Firpo says he’s got unfinished business in the Premier League

EFL experts have been left baffled by Leeds United’s approach under Daniel Farke. The sight of Jayden Bogle driving into the penalty area to set up his fellow full-back Firpo against Stoke summed it up, really.

NBA star and 49ers shareholder Larry Nance Jr labelled Junior Firpo a full-back-turned-number nine this week – a nod to his tendency to pop up in the penalty box – while the feverish atmosphere created by the Elland Road support has made adopted Yorkshiremen out of both men.

“Well, the truth is, what I’ve realised in this city is that for [the fans] it’s a big, big title,” Firpo adds. “You see people who are happy. They also invite me to things. I go buy coffee, they pay for the coffees.”

Having suffered relegation in that catastrophic 2022/23 campaign, Firpo clearly feels he has unfinished business in the Premier League. A hint, perhaps, that a new contract may be on the cards?

Firpo plans to speak to the Leeds bosses in the coming weeks with his current deal expiring in July.

“I feel like the relegation hurt me more than the non-promotion last year,” he adds. “The year we were relegated, I think we had the tools we needed to save ourselves.

“I feel like I have a bit of a thorn in my side [with] the Premier League. The two seasons I spent there with Leeds weren’t great at all. I had a lot of injuries, COVID, and the club wasn’t at its best.

“I think the season we’ve all had is very commendable. And well, speaking about myself, what I’ve done too.”