Leeds United face anxious Junior Firpo wait amid development on international duty
Junior Firpo has been a regular in the Leeds United team this season and Daniel Farke will be anxiously awaiting his return from international duty.
The left-back was called up to the Dominican Republic national team having already racked up 10 caps on international duty so far.
Having played 25 Championship games for a Leeds side sitting at the top of the table this season, it’s no surprise that Firpo was called up again, although this could end up being costly for his club.
Firpo development away from Leeds United
The left-back has started all but one of the games he has played for Leeds this season, making himself a core part of Farke’s side.
Despite being a left-back, Firpo has contributed three goals and nine assists across the Championship season.
Furthermore, consistently playing 90 minutes shows his strength and that is just what his manager needs as Leeds push for promotion to the Premier League this season.
However, an update from international duty will have left the West Yorkshire outfit with some worry ahead of a return from the international break.
According to news outlet El Nacional [19 March], Firpo is not set to play with the Dominican Republic team on Friday against Puerto Rico.
It is not clear of Firpo’s absence is injury related, but the report adds that he is set to link up with the squad for Tuesday’s (25 March) reverse fixture against Puerto Rico.
Leeds need Firpo for promotion push
Although it has been an excellent season for United this season, Farke will be slightly concerned about Leeds’ recent form as the automatic promotion race is now extremely tight.
Leeds do still occupy the top spot in the table but they are level on points with Sheffield United, and two points ahead of third-placed Burnley, meaning this is a race that could go down to the wire.
| Team | Position | Played | Goal Difference | Points |
| Leeds United | 1 | 38 | 51 | 80 |
| Sheffield United | 2 | 38 | 25 | 80 |
| Burnley | 3 | 38 | 41 | 78 |
The Whites have won just two of their previous five games, which isn’t great form, and therefore Farke will be hoping Leeds return from the international break ready to hit the ground running.
However, if his job is going to be made easier, he will need all of his squad to be as fit as possible, especially players like Firpo who have made themselves a regular part of the team.
While it’s not yet known why Firpo will be unavailable for his international team, supporters will be keeping their fingers crossed that it’s not an injury that could affect the rest of his season in West Yorkshire.