Daniel Farke offers Junior Firpo fitness update ahead of Leeds v Hull
Daniel Farke says that Junior Firpo is not yet in team training with Leeds United but his recovery is looking positive.
The defender has been out injured for the majority of December, missing six games due to suffering with a hamstring injury.
Before his setback, Firpo was a regular in Farke’s starting line-up meaning his omission has been a loss for the club.
However, the boss has delivered some positive news in his recovery as he said in his pre-match press conference [quoted via Yorkshire Evening Post]: “He’s more or less in the final stages of his rehab.
“He’s not in team training yet but I hope pretty quick after Hull he can return to team training if everything works out.
“I expect him to be back available after the FA Cup game, perhaps even for that.
“I’m not sure he’ll make it for that but it’s looking pretty good.”
Junior Firpo will soon be available for Leeds United
Farke’s update is positive as it looks as though Firpo could be back in the Leeds side earlier than expected with the FA Cup game against Harrogate on 11 January a possibility.
Although this is good news, the 28-year-old isn’t back in team training yet so there is still a way to go to ensure the defender is actually ready to get back to action.
With a big second half of the season to come, it is vital that the German has as many members of his squad available as possible, giving him the squad depth for the Whites to keep their momentum up in the push for promotion this term.
The defender has been mooted for a January exit [Football League Paper] meaning his return to fitness could come at a vital time in terms of deciding where his future lies although Farke could well see offloading him as an unnecessary risk to take.
It would be surprising to see Firpo start against Harrogate, even if fit as Farke surely won’t want to rush him back sooner than necessary and this should be an easy game for them.
However, if his recovery goes well we could well see the 28-year-old get some minutes under his belt as his return takes shape.
In other Leeds United news, this player could be days away from an Elland Road departure.
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