Ease in possession and controlling games better are two of the strengths Jesse Marsch expects to see from Junior Firpo as he focuses on a clear run at left-back for Leeds United’s run-in. With Stuart Dallas now out of action for the foreseeable future and centre-backs Pascal Struijk or Leo Hjelde the only other feasible options, Firpo has a virtually clear run at full-back in the last four games.
After seeing out more than an hour in Saturday’s Manchester City loss following a seven-week absence with injury, the former Barcelona man will hope to come through the final four games unscathed. In his first season with United, Firpo has started 19 matches in all competitions, but dealt with three sizeable absences between his starting streaks.
It’s been a challenging first campaign in the UK, but Marsch was hopeful when he spoke about the Spaniard before the City loss last week. He said: "We've worked with Junior a lot in the last few days and we're hopeful we can get him fitter and fitter and closer and closer to helping the group.
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“He can help the group. The best thing he can provide is ease with the ball from the left-back position, which can help us have some more solutions and try and control the game a little bit more.
“Whether this is the match (City) to see if he's fully ready, we'll just have to evaluate that over the next couple of days, but he's looked good in training and I've told him to be ready because we'll need him for sure.”
