The wait for Junior Firpo’s season to really get going continues with the left-back missing Leeds United’s trip to Crystal Palace last weekend due to injury.
It has been a hugely frustration start to the campaign for Firpo. Obviously, he had a major point to prove after struggling on the pitch in his first year with Leeds.
A superb showing during the first-half of the opening pre-season game against Blackpool this past summer hinted that the 26-year-old may be ready to turn a corner.
Unfortunately, that has – barring a half-hour cameo against Aston Villa this month – been all we have really seen of Firpo so far.
But ahead of Sunday’s clash with Arsenal, perhaps the former Barcelona man has left Jesse Marsch with something of a selection dilemma.
Return of Junior Firpo could lead to a big boost for Leeds
Firpo features in the club’s latest training video. And that would suggest that he is available to face the Gunners this weekend.
Admittedly, it seems most likely that Firpo – who Tony Dorigo labelled outstanding after one performance last season (via Yorkshire Evening Post) – will be on the bench this Sunday. Marsch will be wary of asking too much, too soon of the defender.
However, after Liam Cooper endured a tough afternoon at Selhurst Park, perhaps there is an argument that Firpo’s return could actually be a much bigger boost than expected.
Pascal Struijk has been outstanding at left-back. But obviously, his best position is in the middle. And for many Leeds fans, the partnership they want to see at centre-back involves Robin Koch and Struijk.
It would be a big ask to expect the pair to make their first appearance of the season together against Arsenal. And it would be a big call to drop the captain for the game.
But Firpo’s potential return opens the door for that partnership to come together.
It may not be this weekend. But at some stage, Marsch surely needs to bring Firpo back into the fold to get the very best out of Struijk.
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