Leeds United news: Medical expert reveals ‘surprise’ Junior Firpo return date
Leeds United star Junior Firpo is slated to return in mid-April in a “surprise” to those who feared his knee injury was season-ending.
That is the view of injury expert Ben Dinnery, who runs the Premier Injuries site and has a background in medicine and data analysis.
Firpo, 25, required oxygen when he was stretchered off in great discomfort during Leeds’ 3-0 defeat to Aston Villa on 11 March.
It was later revealed that the left-back, a £12.8million signing from Barcelona last summer, had damaged his medical collateral ligament.
Per club media last Thursday (17 March), Jesse Marsch claimed the setback is “lighter” than expected and that he could return in “three to five weeks”.
The fact that the Spaniard does not need surgery reduces his recovery time and means he could be back in action next month, explains Dinnery.
“This is towards the lower end of the timescale,” he told Football Insider’s Adam Williams.
“You’re worried when a player is stretchered off and needs oxygen. You’re thinking he’s going to be out for a long time, so it will be a surprise to some.
“But conservative treatment of the MCL is really good. Even if it’s a high end, a grade three, there isn’t always the need for surgery.
“But you would have said that, if he did go under the knife, his season would have certainly been over.
“So it’s maybe a high grade one or low grade two. So, if it isn’t immediately after the international break, certainly by mid-April is realistic.”
Firpo has supplied one assist in 22 appearances in his time at Elland Road.
The Whites are currently seven points clear of the relegation zone but have played at least one more game than the four teams below them.
In other news, pundit suggests Leeds United set to re-open contract talks as major Raphinha development reported.