In the aftermath of Leeds United’s stunning comeback to see off Sheffield United at Bramall Lane, Blades boss Chris Wilder labelled one of Daniel Farke’s promotion-chasing heroes ‘arguably the best in the division’.
Now, merely repeating Wilder’s description without mentioning the player in question brings up an array of potential options.
If you had missed the first part of his sentence, you could be forgiven for assuming the Sheffield United boss was talking about Dan James, Manor Solomon or Ao Tanaka. Perhaps Wilder was labelling Joe Rodon the Championship’s finest centre-half. Or Jayden Bogle – snapped up by Leeds United in a £5 million deal from their Yorkshire neighbours – the stand-out right-back in England’s second-tier.
No, Wilder was instead referring to Junior Firpo.
The ‘outstanding’ left-back who’s bullet header from a floated Dan James cross drew Leeds level in the Steel City and laid the foundations for a victory which extended their advantage at the top of the table to five points.
Junior Firpo in ‘world-class’ form as Leeds United near promotion
“Great ball [from James] to Firpo,” Wilder sighed, disappointed to see his team give Junior Firpo a clear run into the box. “He’s an outstanding player; Arguably the best left-back in the division.”
The Spanish press go even further. Firpo, they say, is not only ‘arguably the best left-back in the division’ but one of the best on the planet.
On current form, at least.
Junior Firpo’s lung-busting displays on the Real Betis left earned him a £13 million move to European powerhouses Barcelona six years ago. But it is at Elland Road, Sport say, where the former Spain Under-21 international is blossoming into one of the continent’s stand-out left-backs.
“Junior Firpo is showing a colossal performance this season,” Iker Lloveras writes in Sport. “Without a doubt, his best version since he landed at Leeds United in July 2021.
“He is in his physical and footballing prime, taking on a team that has its sights set on returning to the Premier League on the fast track and ending the year as Championship champions.”
Firpo tops the assist charts alongside Dan James at Leeds
A tally of six goals or assists in the last five league matches is a tally any of the forwards at Daniel Farke’s disposal would be proud of.
Yet, while full-backs have evolved into something far more attack-minded in the modern era, that a player in Junior Firpo’s position is putting up such numbers during the run-in is emblematic of a footballer who has gone from occasionally wayward to ‘world-class’.
At least, in the minds of the Spanish media. No wonder the clamour is growing for Leeds to reward Firpo with a new deal.
Junior Firpo is not only a footballer at his most creative right now, but also at his most complete.
Only Dan James has as many as his eight assists across the Championship campaign. Firpo also ranks in Leeds’ top three, however, for tackles won, interceptions made, clearances and key passes.
And, on a night in which their usual matchwinners struggled to get up to speed, it was the left-back who emulated Pascal Struijk seven days earlier and came to Leeds’ rescue in another come-from-behind victory which feels like a major milestone in a journey upon which all the roads lead to promotion.
“I thought Firpo grabbed the game by the scruff of the neck,” Sheffield United legend Chris Basha told Sky Sports.
“Credit to him.”
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