Junior Firpo gives Daniel Farke brand new option at Leeds United as international footage emerges
Daniel Farke has a new option for set-pieces and coping with injuries at Leeds United after what Junior Firpo did for the Dominican Republic.
LUFCLivin posted a video on X (12 October) which showed Firpo rounding off the scoring in the Dominican Republic’s 5-0 win over Antigua and Barbuda with a panenka from the penalty spot.
That ultra-confident spot kick came just four minutes after Firpo – playing an inside-forward role in a 3-4-2-1 formation – had made it 4-0 with a similar strike to his goal against Sunderland on 4 October.
Not only did Pascal Struijk miss United’s last penalty attempt, but the club also have injury worries out wide, and Firpo’s latest display may have provided Farke with the perfect alternative in both departments.
Junior Firpo can become new attacking weapon at Leeds United
You’d hardly expect a conventional left-back to be his country’s key attacking player, but not only is Firpo anything but, he has also proven to be just that for the Dominican Republic.
Firpo’s forages forward are nothing new at Elland Road, and his combination with Wilfried Gnonto against Sunderland to put his side ahead looked like the winner until Illan Meslier’s error at the other end.
With wingers Manor Solomon and Daniel James still not being confirmed as fit to face Sheffield United on 18 October [Leeds Live, 7 October], Farke could look to unlock Firpo’s ability in the final third by playing him further forward.
Sam Byram and Isaac Schmidt will be waiting in the wings to slot in at left-back, while the 28-year-old could also solve the issue of United’s lack of a clear penalty-taker so far this season.
Whenever Joel Piroe isn’t on the pitch, responsibility from 12 yards has fallen to Struijk, but after his spot-kick at Cardiff was tamely saved, who better than Firpo, fresh off nonchalantly chipping home a panenka, to be the man to saddle that burden.
In other Leeds news, a new Whites signing is “in the balance” with the free agent spending several days at Thorp Arch this week.
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