Fourteen starts in two years is hardly the ideal preparation for a footballer being dropped in at the Premier League deep end in the backline of a club second-bottom of the goals conceded column. Junior Firpo had a mountain to climb 12 months ago and that was before he was struck by Covid three times and multiple injuries.
The former Barcelona full-back is optimistic this next season cannot be worse and hopes he will be able to kick on with consistency and fitness. In a cruel twist of fate, Firpo furnished the media with this optimism before injury would ultimately rule him out of the tour to Australia.
Speaking after Thursday’s win over Blackpool, in which Firpo scored, he was asked if his attacking mentality would be replicated in the season ahead. He said: “That’s how it’s going to be if the Covid and injuries let me. I am just trying to stay fit, to play every single game and, as I always say, give everything on the pitch.”
