Stuart Dallas’ unlucky harm has ramped up the strain on Junior Firpo, with one pundit throwing down the gauntlet to the struggling Leeds Utd left-back.
Leeds confirmed Stuart Dallas had suffered a femoral fracture throughout a problem with Jack Grealish on Saturday night. The harm will hold the versatile 31-year-old out for an prolonged interval and can now guarantee Junior Firpo will get the nod to start out at left-back.
Firpo – a £12m signing from Barcelona final summer time – has endured what can solely be described as a nightmare debut season in England.
He has repeatedly regarded susceptible in his personal half and his newest yellow card towards Metropolis introduced his tally to 10 in simply 20 league outings.
Firpo has additionally struggled to affect proceedings on the offensive finish too. His league totals for objectives and assists at the moment stands at zero and one respectively.
But with Dallas now sidelined, Leeds don’t have any alternative however to hope Firpo can up his recreation for the ultimate 4 matches.
Everton’s shock win towards Chelsea and Burnley’s revival beneath Mike Jackson has seen Leeds dragged again into the relegation combine.
And with Arsenal and Chelsea up subsequent, there’s a actual concern round Elland Street that their Premier League standing is perhaps coming to an finish.
Powerful challenges await Junior Firpo
Firpo will likely be as very important as any in serving to Leeds to make sure that doesn’t occur. In opposition to Arsenal he should take care of Bukayo Saka and towards Chelsea he’ll be tasked with limiting Reece James’ affect from wing-back.
And speaking to Football Insider, former Leeds striker Noel Whelan threw down the gauntlet to Firpo.
“He’s acquired an enormous quantity of strain on his shoulders now,” stated Whelan.
“He’s acquired to get higher and get a steady run of video games beneath his belt – and put some correct performances in.
“It’s acquired to be extra constant from Firpo – each going ahead and defending.
“That is the a part of the season now the place we want the actual heroes of the season to step up, as a result of everyone knows the scenario we’re in. It’s an actual dogfight down there now.
“We’d like Firpo to come back in and play on the high of his recreation and present the shape which made us signal him within the first place.
“That left-back spot is up for grabs for a very long time if he needs it. So it’s as much as him now to place some critical performances in and provides this group a large raise.”