Coming into the new season, and until the end of the transfer window for that matter, Leeds United's left-back department was one of the biggest talking points. Stuart Dallas’s long-term injury meant Junior Firpo was the only senior, natural option available to Jesse Marsch in that slot.
And then the Dominican got injured in the first public friendly of pre-season. Leif Davis would go to Australia on tour, but head to Ipswich Town upon his return, leaving Pascal Struijk to hold the fort.
The Dutchman is a more natural fit at centre-back, where his attributes look best suited and his long-term future surely lies. Struijk did play well during the rare passages he was expected to play left-back under Marcelo Bielsa, but, for many, it was seen as a step too far for Leeds to knowingly enter the campaign with him as the first choice option in that role.
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Firpo has been repeatedly talked up by Marsch as the man the club trusts at left-back in the long term and how swiftly he would return from injury to take the load off Struijk. The Whites were comfortable coming out of the window with their first choice carrying a short-term issue, their second choice carrying a long-term issue and centre-back reserves plugging the gap in the meantime.
Along with the frustrations around getting a new, top-level striker, left-back remained a lightning rod for many on the terraces. It’s not an argument helped by looking back at Firpo’s track record in the Premier League either.
As he would admit himself this summer, 2021/22 could not have been much worse for the former Barcelona man. However, he has had all of the support he could have wished for this summer from Marsch and the club.
Firpo could have no doubts he was their number one man coming into this season and yet, ironically with no perceived natural alternatives, the 26-year-old has a big job on his hands even getting into the team. Finally, the full-back made his return to action with the under-21s last week and he now has another 12 days to prove himself to Marsch.
Struijk’s not made it an easy switch, though. Yes, he’s by far a better centre-half than left-back, but with Liam Cooper emerging as the prime candidate for Diego Llorente’s shirt, there’s a major argument for keeping the 23-year-old on the flank.
Struijk may not have delivered the returns a more attacking left-back may have served up, but he has generally looked solid, tucked in when Leeds have looked to build out as a back three and been another aerial asset at set-pieces. Firpo will immediately offer more attacking thrust, but at what cost to the side’s defensive solidity?
Having shipped five in the last match, Struijk could prove to be the more sensible option for Marsch as he looks to steady the ship next month. Firpo’s stranglehold on that position does not make him an automatic recall for the Aston Villa or Crystal Palace matches either, with Struijk well-established and settled into Marsch’s tactical imprint.
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