Daniel Farke has confirmed Junior Firpo is ‘in the mix’ for Leeds United’s trip to Leicester City.
Firpo has been out injured for the entirety of Farke’s reign so far but the Leeds boss confirmed in his press conference that the 27-year-old has taken part in full training this week.
Since his move from Barcelona over two years ago, Firpo has not had an easy time of it at Elland Road, with injuries and lack of form having both been a struggle for him.
However, particularly at this level, there is no doubt Firpo can have an impact on this squad and his ability going forward should stand him in good stead.
Sam Byram has been Leeds’ only real left-back option all season and while Firpo will provide a new threat to his starting position, it is actually good news for him.
Why Firpo’s return is good news for Byram
Prior to his return to Leeds this summer, Byram’s has seen the last few years of his career plagued by injuries, making just 34 appearances across the last three seasons.
While Farke is managing his workload carefully, Byram is almost halfway to that tally in the first three months he’s been back at Leeds.
Byram will undoubtedly be delighted with the amount he has played this season, but with games set to come thick and fast after the international break, it would be unwise for him to play every game.
That is exactly why Firpo’s return is good news for him, as he can come into the side whenever Byram is not feeling 100%, or in matches where Leeds are highly likely to dominate all of the ball.
This means both players will be able to dovetail in and out of the side with one another, ensuring their availability runs deep into the season, as opposed to being worked into the ground.
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