Leeds United’s Junior Firpo to start against Leicester City, Pascal Struijk ruled out
Firpo #Firpo
Leeds United’s Jesse Marsch confirms that Pascal Struijk will miss Thursday’s Premier League trip to Leicester City due to injury, with Junior Firpo to start at left-back.
Leeds United head coach Jesse Marsch has confirmed that Pascal Struijk will miss Thursday’s Premier League trip to Leicester City due to injury, with Junior Firpo to start at left-back.
Struijk, who naturally plays as a central defender, has had to fill in at left-back this season due to the absences of both Firpo and Stuart Dallas.
Dallas broke his leg in April and is continuing his rehabilitation process, while Firpo sustained a knee problem in pre-season but returned to the matchday squad for the first time this campaign for the 1-0 defeat against Arsenal on Sunday.
Marsch stated in his press conference last week that Struijk has been “playing at a high level” this term, but the American will have to cope without the defender for Thursday’s trip to the King Power Stadium due to a minor injury.
“Pascal picked up an injury and won’t be available for tomorrow, but we are hopeful that by Sunday (against Fulham) he will be available,” Marsch told reporters on Wednesday.
“Junior will start, he’s ready, been patiently waiting and making sure that he’s sharp, fit and strong. I’m excited for him to have his opportunity.”
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Marsch has also revealed that Adam Forshaw is progressing well with his recovery from an ankle injury, while Archie Gray (toe) and Leo Hjelde (appendectomy) remain sidelined.
In addition, the American boss has confirmed that young trio Wilfried Gnonto, Joe Gelhardt and Sam Greenwood will be included in Thursday’s matchday squad.
All three players have featured regularly for the Under-21s this season, but they were not involved in the 3-0 EFL Trophy defeat against Bolton Wanderers on Tuesday, as Marsch is keen to have them all as options for the senior side against Leicester.
“Willy [Gnonto] will be with us and Joffy [Gelhardt] and Sam [Greenwood]. We knew that we had a three-game week so we have use some of those Under-21s matches to keep them fit and strong and sharp and now we’re going to need them in this week to be ready for us.”
Leeds head to the King Power without a win from their last six league matches, with the 1-0 loss at home to Arsenal their third defeat in their last four games.
Patrick Bamford came off the bench at half time and missed a penalty against the Gunners, and the striker is yet to get off the mark this term.
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The 29-year-old scored 17 goals in 38 top-flight games in the 2020-21 campaign, including a strike in the 3-1 away victory against Leicester, but he has found the net only twice since the start of last season, largely due to his persistent injury problems.
Bamford could be named in the starting lineup on Thursday and Marsch believes that Leeds’ No.9 will eventually find his goalscoring touch.
“I’m challenging Patrick to continue to grow into the type of striker that we need,” Marsch said. “I’ve said for a couple of weeks now that we think he could be part of the solution.
“I also said, my experience of being around strikers is if they’re not getting chances, it’s much more concerning than if they’re getting chances and not scoring. He’s getting chances in bunches and his talent is so high that it’s only a matter of time before those start to go his way and when they do then we could start to see a total change in momentum in him and for us.
“The goal is to help him, to challenge him to continue to move forward in a positive way but to support him and let him know that it’s close. We believe that, he believes that and yeah and I think Thursday could be a catalyst for that and for him for the rest of the season.”
Leeds currently sit 15th in the Premier League table, just one point above the relegation zone, but a win over basement club Leicester could see them climb up to 12th place if other results were to go their way.
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