three left-backs After the blows to Firpo and Byram, Leeds United must consider signing someone next month.
Leeds United boss Daniel Farke has revealed that his side are weighing up left-back options in the January market with Sam Byram and Junior Firpo both currently out of action.
Byram’s hamstring injury was always likely to increase the need to bring in a left-back during the January window. He has been ruled out for three weeks, which follows on from Farke revealing Firpo would also miss the next three weeks with a similar hamstring injury, as stated just last week.
Stuart Dallas is recovering from a leg break which dates back to April 2022, and Jamie Shackleton is also suffering from a glute injury. That means all of the players to have started games at left-back this season or in recent years are out during the busy time of year during the festive period.
Junior Firpo briefly made a return to fitness a few weeks ago but has already missed a large chunk of the season and played just three times, leaving Leeds short of specialist, natural left-sided full-back options.
Despite joining from Barcelona, Firpo has struggled to be a regular in the Leeds set up for the better part of two-and-a-half seasons, appearing just 54 times for the club. Byram has managed the majority of minutes and performed well this term, but his injury record was always likely to catch up with him eventually, given how extensive his injuries have been with Norwich.
It leaves Leeds light on the left, meaning the likes of Archie Gray, Djed Spence, Luke Ayling, and the inexperienced Leo Hjelde will have to pick up the minutes in both full-back areas for the next few games.
Speaking in a recent pre-match press conference, journalist Phil Hay revealed that Farke explained they could now go into the market for a left-back, and he also stated it was something they had considered before news of further injuries.
“Farke indicated that he’s giving through to recruiting at left-back in
January – and was thinking about that even before Byram/Firpo got injured. Farke says Firpo is close to returning to training.”
The club had a busy summer of incomings, but further reinforcements will be needed to chase down the top two in January, and left-back ought to be a key area on the agenda.
