Jack Harrison can instantly break 100-year record in first Fiorentina game that Micah Richards never could

Jack Harrison has swapped one relegation battle for another after leaving Leeds to join Fiorentina on loan until the end of the season.

The 29-year-old can become just the second England player to make his debut for La Viola this weekend against fellow strugglers Cagliari.

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Harrison, who spent the previous two seasons on loan at Everton, has made just one Premier League start for Leeds United this campaign.

The winger has featured 13 times for Daniel Farke‘s side in all competitions, 10 of them as a substitute, without a goal contribution.

However, Fiorentina will hope he hits the ground running in Italy, with the club only outside the relegation zone on goal difference.

Paolo Vanoli’s side earned a Conference League place after finishing sixth last year, but have won just three of 21 Serie A games this term.

Jack Harrison can break record in first Fiorentina game

Harrison can become the first Englishman to score for Fiorentina in their 100-year history after following in Micah Richards’ footsteps.

The latter registered one assist without a goal in his 19 appearances on loan from Manchester City during the 2014/15 season.

Former England U21 player Tariq Lamptey, who sustained an ACL injury shortly after arriving at Fiorentina in September, has also switched international allegiances to play for Ghana.

Ex-Liverpool youth product Bobby Duncan scored four goals in 14 games for La Viola’s reserves, but never played for the first team.

Harrison’s switch to Stadio Artemio Franchi gives him ample opportunity to make history, having never failed to score at least once across an entire season in his senior career.

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Why Fiorentina for Harrison?

Harrison has now left Leeds, who are two places above the Premier League drop zone, for a more pressing relegation battle in Serie A.

European football expert Andy Brassell told talkSPORT.com: “It’s not [ideal circumstances to join Fiorentina], but there’s a bit of wait and see on both sides, I suppose. 

“I’ve always really liked Harrison as a player. Clearly, Leeds and him fell a little bit out of love. But they’ve had some big moments, if you think back to the Brentford game and staying up at the end of that season.

“He’s someone who’s culturally adaptable, he’s come through in US soccer as well, so I think that’s something that’s important too.

“I think if we’re looking on that right-hand side, cutting in onto his left, it’s a position where they could do with a little bit of strengthening. And I can imagine him working really well with Dodô, because he likes to make those lung-busting runs outside.

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“If you have Harrison on the right cutting into that left, that’s going to make even more space for Dodô,” Brasell continued to talkSPORT. “So I could see them fitting really, really well together.

“I think the main thing for them is just improve the squad, really, this window. If you look at the squad that they’ve got, there’s no way they should be anywhere near the bottom of the table.

“It’s been a bit of a mess so far this season. They’re a club and a team that don’t expect to be down there; it’s a team that’s been successful in recent years, albeit in the Conference League in Europe.

“You’re kind of worried about them because you’re like, this is not a team that’s set for a relegation battle.

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“Some of those expect to be down there fighting for their lives, and Fiorentina definitely didn’t.

“That’s another advantage of Jack Harrison because he’s done that with Leeds before. So I think there are a couple of things to recommend him. 

“For him, he’s got a little bit stuck at Leeds, so it’s something different, and Fiorentina are clearly ambitious. 

“Fiorentina, if they can avoid the worst this season, they’re a club that’s going places going forward. If you’re Harrison, I can see a lot to recommend that in the short term and the long term.”

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Fiorentina are now four Serie A matches without losing for the first time this season, with Edin Dzeko’s move to Schalke opening the door for an immediate Harrison introduction.

“Yeah, I’m excited,” Harrison told La Viola’s website following his arrival at the club.

“I met a couple of the guys, but it’s been busy doing the medical and everything. It’s a beautiful place here, and I’m excited to get going.”

Message for the fans? “Forza Viola!

“I’m going to work on my Italian. I’m looking forward to embracing the culture and everything about the club, and I’m going to give my all for this club and do everything I can. 

“Hopefully, we can get back to winning ways and work our way up the table.”