Pundit: Leeds United suffer ‘massive blow’ after latest Bielsa update on Bamford
We’re delighted to welcome former England goalkeeper Paul Robinson as our exclusive columnist as each week he’ll be giving his views on the biggest talking points at Leeds United...
Paul Robinson is gutted to learn that Leeds United do not have a timescale on Patrick Bamford’s latest injury problem.
Speaking to the media on Monday [7 February], Marcelo Bielsa confirmed that Bamford, 28, has made no progress in recovering from his foot injury and he “cannot predict” with the striker will be available against [BBC Sport].
Leeds failed to sign any new senior players in January and Robinson feels that decisions is already coming back to haunt his former club based on Bielsa’s team news ahead of the Aston Villa game on Wednesday.
“It’s a massive blow,” said Robinson to MOT Leeds News.
“They’ve been without him for 15 games already and for them to not have any kind of indication of when he’s getting better or when he’s going to be training, from what Bielsa’s said on Monday, he’s nowhere near.
“They’ve got by playing Dan James, Raphinha and Jack Harrison there but why they didn’t sign anyone in January when they knew this was the case, it still baffles me.
“Bielsa doesn’t start Joe Gelhardt, he won’t play him as a replacement for Bamford. He’ll play Rodrigo there, Dan James there and he’ll play Harrison there before he plays Gelhardt.
“They’ve got no direct replacement for him and if they knew he was going to be out for this length of time, it’s strange they didn’t bring anyone in during January if they were able to.
“We don’t know the financial situation and maybe the manager didn’t want anybody but looking at it now, it amuses you as to why they didn’t bring anyone in.”
Bamford has played just six times in the Premier League this season.
He was one of Leeds’ best players last term as they finished ninth but he’s so far missed 18 matches in all competitions due to different injury issues.
Bielsa has experimented with different players up front but James seems to be his favourite right now and he could spearhead the attack against Aston Villa at Villa Park on Wednesday night.
In other Leeds United news, Robbie Fowler is concerned by what he’s seen at Leeds.