In normal circumstances, the man who set up Ao Tanaka’s late clincher during Leeds United’s 2-0 midweek win over Millwall would be described as a somewhat unusual suspect.
Yet, given a new lease of life by Daniel Farke’s free-flowing, malleable and mobile set-up, Junior Firpo is genuinely one of the most consistent goal threats on the Elland Road roster these days.
Ao Tanaka’s 85th minute finish was ‘wonderful’. And while Firpo might not have intended the ball to roll into his path – the left-back appeared instead to be aiming for Manor Solomon – that he was in the position to add a ninth assist to his seasonal tally in the first place is testament to the freedom afforded to the swashbuckling Spaniard under Farke.
The Spanish press labelled Junior Firpo a ‘world-class’ performer a few weeks ago. That may have been slightly overboard. This is still only the second-tier of English football after all.
Yet, since the beginning of February, the £13 million signing from Barcelona has contributed eight goals or assists in eight Championship matches. ‘World class’ numbers, certainly.
He even scored in successive matches against Sheffield United and West Brom. Until then, Firpo had only found the net three times in 107 Leeds games.
In stark contrast, the man reportedly lined up to potentially replace Firpo during the January transfer window would bite your hand off for a start, or even a few minutes off the bench, let alone a goal or an assist.
Matt Targett’s season takes a twist after Leeds United interest in Newcastle man
As Leeds United News exclusively reported two months ago, Newcastle’s Matt Targett was a long-term Leeds target.
Eddie Howe would shut down talk of a potential winter switch from Tyneside to West Yorkshire, however. After selling Miguel Almiron to Atlanta United, Newcastle were no longer under the same financial pressures.
Yet, while Howe was happy enough to keep the experienced £15 million man around at St James’ Park, a penny for Matt Targett’s thoughts as he prepares to wile away the next couple of months gathering dust on the bench.
The former Aston Villa, Fulham and Southampton man has not played a single minute of Premier League football in 2025. That is partly down to a hamstring issue he suffered in the autumn. But, even after returning to full fitness, Targett’s only minutes have come against Birmingham City and Brighton and Hove Albion in the FA Cup.
With the excellent Lewis Hall now Howe’s first-choice, and with the versatile Dan Burn arguably ahead of him in the pecking order too, was there a chance that Targett had played his final game of the season in mid-March?
Brighton dumped Newcastle out of the FA Cup a few weeks back. There is no European football on the go either.
As such, Targett’s only realistic hopes of first-team minutes felt like coming in a competition in which he has featured only once across the entire campaign.
Wembley chance emerges as Newcastle prepare for Liverpool challenge
Well, that seemed to be the case anyway until news broke of a major blow for Lewis Hall this week. The former Chelsea starlet is out long-term, having undergone surgery on a foot injury.
In the blink of an eye, Targett has gone from having potentially played his last game of 2024/25 to being on the verge of facing off against the mighty Mo Salah at Wembley stadium on Sunday afternoon.
“Matt is a great professional and a really great team-mate,” Howe says. “He is very popular in the dressing and very popular on the training ground. He does his job diligently. He has really looked after himself this season. He has had various injury problems over the last three years.
“That would be the biggest reason why he’s not played. Then, he has come back to fitness and invariably when he has come back he’s done well. He’s got settled but Lewis Hall’s form this year has been really strong.
“But [Hall’s injury] does present a potential opportunity for Matt. He is a player that will never let us down, he has a lovely left foot, a really good technical player. So potentially opportunities for him on the horizon.”
Promotion with Leeds would be the highpoint of Junior Firpo’s career.
But if Matt Targett can shut down Salah while ending Newcastle’s 56-year wait for silverware, well, this would only show how quickly everything can change in a roll of a die.
“Matt is a great professional and a really great team-mate. He is very popular in the dressing and very popular on the training ground. He does his job diligently. He has really looked after himself this season. He has had various injury problems over the last three years.
“That would be the biggest reason why he’s not played, then he has come back to fitness and invariably when he has come back he’s done well. He’s got settled but Lewis Hall’s form this year has been really strong. But this does present a potential opportunity for Matt.”
“He is a player that will never let us down, he has a lovely left foot, a really good technical player. So potentially opportunities for him on the horizon.”
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