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Junior Firpo: Leeds United’s attacking cheat code in defence

Leeds United handed out a footballing lesson to Cardiff City in their 7-0 win at Elland Road on Saturday. The home side raced to a 2-0 lead in the first 20 minutes but the shackles completely came off in the second half when they scored five past the away side. The forwards came to the fore including Daniel James but it was Junior Firpo who produced a brilliant attacking display from left-back. The Dominican defender was a constant threat from the left-hand side and registered three assists. Firpo showed why he is such a key cog in Daniel Farke’s machine and how Leeds missed him when he was out with a hamstring injury a few weeks back.

The Yorkshire giants entertained the Elland Road crowd with seven goals on Saturday and put out a strong message to the rest of the Championship about their ambition to get promoted this season.

Leeds have been the most consistent side in the league and the big win over Cardiff was not an accident as Leeds have been the top scorers in the league this season while missing as many big chances as their closest promotion rivals have been creating.

The home side have been boosted by the return of Junior Firpo who missed most of December and a few games in January due to a hamstring injury he picked up.

Sam Byram was a good alternative but he is more of a defensive full-back while Firpo is more of an attacking option who bombs up and down the flank and creates goals.

He did exactly that at Elland Road on Saturday and while being a defender, he was a constant attacking menace against the Welsh side and created all sorts of problems, for their defence.

Junior Firpo: Leeds United’s attacking Swiss knife

Firpo struggled in the Premier League previously but over the last 18 months, he has proved his credentials as an attacking full-back again in the Championship.

He has been more or less the first-choice left-back this season for the Whites and was a key player in Leeds’ attacking build-up before he picked up the hamstring injury.

Leeds adapted by playing a more defensive Sam Byram but his presence was missed and he was drafted into the team as soon as he was fit and ready to play 90 minutes again.

He was a menace for the Cardiff defence on Saturday and more than the three assists it is important to note how involved he was in the final third for the Whites.

Firpo regularly got inside the opposition penalty box and continued to create chances for the team with his darting and overlapping or underlapping runs from left-back.

He was more or less parked inside the opposition half as Cardiff were hardly a threat on the other end but he remained defensively diligent when required.

Firpo showed why he is so highly rated at Leeds and why his attacking game is wanted by Farke despite some of his occasional defensive lapses.

Leeds and Firpo have a decision to make at the end of the season

Firpo will be out of contract at the end of the season and he is yet to indicate whether he is prepared to sign a new deal to extend his stay at Elland Road.

His decision will likely rest on what happens this season. If Leeds get promoted, he would be open to signing a new contract but if they remain in the Championship, the defender is likely to move on.

However, Leeds would also have a decision to make if they get promoted to the Premier League about whether they would be ready to offer him a new contract.

Firpo struggled in the Premier League and was one of the players who looked out of place in the top flight where his defensive frailties were exposed regularly by better wingers and forwards.

He has looked great in the Championship but Farke will have to take a call on whether Firpo has improved enough to get another crack in the Premier League.

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