Leeds United: New Junior Firpo, Raphinha reveal may surprise supporters - View | OneFootball

Junior Firpo has been outstanding for Leeds United since Daniel Farke decided to put his faith in the left-back in 2024.

The full-back has made 32 appearances for the Whites so far this Championship season, contributing to eight assists, as per Transfermarkt. In some ways, that has been unsurprising, after he arrived with a strong reputation and pedigree having played for Real Betis as well as FC Barcelona in the Champions League.

However, injuries during his time at Leeds meant that the full-back featured 43 times in the top-flight across two seasons before Leeds suffered relegation to the Championship last year. He's having his best season with the club so far in the second tier, but the Whites defender has come under plenty of scrutiny for his performances for the West Yorkshire outfit since signing from Barcelona in the summer of 2021.

Junior Firpo's 2024 impact

The 27-year-old had made just one league appearance early on in the second tier, coming off the bench in the closing stages of a 2-1 win over Plymouth Argyle prior to the November international break, and it appeared as though this season was set to be the same struggle for fitness for most of the campaign.

Firpo played just three times in November before succumbing to injury once more, but he then had a turning point in 2024 - albeit with a hamstring issue during the festive period setting him back slightly.

After struggling with those issues, and failing to contribute to any goal involvement, Firpo then managed four assists in three games, during crucial wins over Birmingham City, Cardiff City, and against Preston North End.

While he has never been a strong one against one defender or the best player in general defensive situations and dealing with transitions, Firpo has the ability to contribute to the Leeds attack consistently down the left-hand side, which is something that has greatly aided the side to keep winning games.

It was always clear that he had the talent in possession, and if Firpo could avoid the injuries that had so far blighted his Leeds career, then the club had a solution to their left-back problem of having no specialist left-footer. He will overlap, and, crucially, hold the width. He is able to do this as he plays on his strong foot, and is the only out-and-out left-footed full-back at the club, which opens up passing angles in build up and crossing opportunities in the final third.

In particular, his dynamic with Crysencio Summerville is extremely fruitful, as well as his relationship with Glen Kamara in progressing the ball upfield and taking Leeds out of pressure, where Leeds have had the most joy in recent months down the left-hand side.

His role was particularly pertinent during the win over Norwich City during the second-leg. Firpo's assist for Summerville showcased their understanding and his quality as an attack-minded full-back for the Whites.

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Firpo's assist record in the Championship

Firpo is rubbing shoulders with two former Leeds players for the quality of performances since the turn of the year, with his assist record improving by the game. The latest one against Norwich saw him equal two records.

Luke Ayling's loan to Middlesbrough worked out extremely well for a player who had seldom featured for Leeds at the back end of his career in West Yorkshire, and for a player who often featured on the opposite flank to Firpo at right-back, too.

However, even more impressively, Firpo's eight assists to add to his four in the Premier League have put him in even more esteemed company for Leeds, with Raphinha notching that figure during his time at the club, per LUFCDATA.

It may come as somewhat of a surprise to Leeds fans that a player of Raphinha's quality only notched 12 assists during his two seasons with the club, but he also added an extra 17 goals in his 67 appearances at Elland Road. However, it also highlights how impressive Firpo's performances have been, and how vital he could be yet again on Sunday during play-off the final at Wembley against Southampton.