Junior Firpo looks set for another lengthy spell on the sidelines after picking up an injury in Thursday’s friendly against Blackpool. The Leeds United man was not included in Jesse Marsch’s 26-man squad that travelled to Australia on Sunday, with the Whites boss admitting on Tuesday that Firpo is ‘most likely out for eight weeks’.
The nature of the injury is unknown, but it is yet another setback for the defender who has struggled to settle into regular first-team football since arriving from Barcelona last summer. The 25-year-old picked up several niggling injuries last season and suffered with Covid, no doubt affecting what was a disappointing campaign.
His injury has highlighted a potential weak point in Marsch’s team, with Leif Davis the only other specialist left-back available - although his failure to hold a position in Scott Parker’s Bournemouth side in the Championship last season has raised concerns - while Pascal Struijk and Leo Hjelde have both featured in short spells.
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Firpo’s injury meant he remained in the UK to rehabilitate alone while the rest of the squad travelled Down Under, but if Marsch’s prognosis is anything to go by the left-back will also miss the first month of Leeds’ 2022/2023 Premier League campaign. The Whites were ravaged by injury last season in what ended up being a battle for survival that went to the final day, and kicking off the new season with one first-team player already sidelined is far from ideal.
The new season kicks off at Elland Road, with Marsch’s side hosting Wolverhampton Wanderers on Saturday, August 6. Firpo will almost certainly be missing for the opener, and with games coming thick and fast before they break up for the World Cup in Qatar in November, the left-back could miss up to six total games.
The Whites travel down to the south coast to face Southampton the weekend after the Wolves game, with a home tie against Thomas Tuchel’s Chelsea to follow. A trip to the AMEX to take on Brighton and a midweek home game against Everton wrap up a busy August, before a trip to Brentford on September 3.
Should Firpo adhere to the initial timeline and return in eight weeks time, the Whites’ full-back will miss all of the above games. His return would be for a long-awaited Premier League clash with Nottingham Forest at Elland Road on September 12 - a Monday night clash.
The amount of games that Firpo could potentially miss lays bare the problem that Marsch and Leeds now have. Luckily, the majority of their major business - except a new striker - has been completed and the sale of Raphinha to Barcelona will generate £50million. Victor Orta will no doubt be working hard to potentially source a new left-back as well.
Games Junior Firpo could miss in full:
August 6 - wolves (H)
August 13 - Southampton (A)
August 21 - Chelsea (H)
August 27 - Brighton (A)
August 30 - Everton (H)
September 3 - Brentford (A)
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