Leeds United manager Daniel Farke has suggested that Junior Firpo likely won’t return to action for the Whites until after the international break.
The Elland Road head coach, speaking to the Yorkshire Evening Post, said the 27-year-old is progressing nicely in training, “growing day by day”.
However, Farke also stressed that he needs to think of the Leeds team first and foremost, and alluded to potentially bringing Firpo back after the international break.
The defender is yet to play for Leeds this season as he continues to recover from torn lateral ligaments in his knee.
‘The international break will be beneficial’
Farke was asked by the Yorkshire Evening Post ahead of Saturday’s Championship meeting with Plymouth what he had been doing with Firpo this week to see if he’s ready.
“It’s tricky because you can’t plan a schedule because of one player,” replied the Leeds boss. “In order to get him back to fitness, it doesn’t make sense to play an internal game just for him.
“Each normal training week is beneficial for him, the last two weeks were good and this many sessions this week helps him.
“He’s growing day to day and we must not forget he hasn’t been involved in a game in months, he had many little injuries and one or two major injuries.
“It’s good he’s back and grows game to game. The international break will be beneficial for him as well.
“He’s quite close to being involved in games, he can’t be there with a perfect rhythm but has been in team training three weeks, he’s just missing minutes in the game.
“We want to give him them, but the key topic is to win with your strongest XI so for that, we will be careful.”
Good call from Farke as Firpo look to apply finishing touches to his recovery at Leeds – TBR View
While it’s a shame that Leeds won’t get to see Firpo in action just yet, it’s absolutely the best course of action for the player.
The ‘world-class‘ talent is coming back from a lengthy injury layoff that was initially meant to keep him out of action until September, so he needs to be protected and eventually eased back into action.
As Farke says, the international break comes at a good time with regards to helping Firpo apply the finishing touches to his recovery without missing any more game time for Leeds.