Phil Hay: Junior Firpo likely to start on bench v Manchester United
Leeds United go into their opening day clash at Manchester United with few injury worries in their camp.
Diego Llorente is one confirmed absentee, and there are question marks surrounding Junior Firpo despite his return to training.
The summer signing is fit, but Marcelo Bielsa may not start him at Old Trafford after he missed the final two games of pre-season.
Phil Hay has been questioned on the likely team news this morning over on The Athletic, and he shared his gut feeling.
Responding to a fan, he insisted it was likely that Stuart Dallas may play in defence instead with Mateusz Klich in midfield.
“It depends on Firpo,” he wrote.
“My gut feeling is that Bielsa might well go with Dallas at LB and Klich CM, just because Firpo missed the last two friendlies and some training too. But if Firpo starts, surely Dallas will get the nod – on the basis of last season.”
Happy?
We would love to see Firpo at left-back but know that after his previous knock in pre-season, it is unlikely.
Dallas has been sensational in midfield with his superior fitness levels, and moving him back into defence could hinder us slightly.
Klich has scored a couple towards the end of pre-season and will be raring to prove himself more than last season where he struggled with numerous different issues.
It is a good headache for Bielsa to have, but he brought Firpo in to be his first-choice left-back and that may lead to him being thrown in at the deep end.
Bring it on.
In other Leeds United news, ‘Wow’ – Paul Merson predicts result of the Whites’ clash v Manchester United