‘Chronic’ – Phil Hay claims Bielsa favourite will be demoted to squad player for Leeds in PL
Phil Hay has said that he can see Patrick Bamford still being a Leeds United player if they get promoted this season but as a squad player rather than a first-choice starter.
Bamford has come in for severe criticism again after another game where he failed to score.
Leeds came out 1-0 winners against Middlesbrough but the home side hit the bar and could easily have come away with an undeserved point from the game.
Despite only scoring 12 goals this season, Marcelo Bielsa has consistently favoured Bamford over first Eddie Nketiah and now Jean-Kevin Augustin.
In a Q&A on the Athletic website after the game, one fan asked Hay whether Leeds would try and pay off Bamford’s contract in the summer. He’s under contract with the club until 2022.
Given that Leeds could easily sell him, we think the question is better couched as “Will Bamford leave in the summer?”
Hay responded saying, “I don’t see that happening. Bielsa likes him and if Leeds go up, I wouldn’t be surprised if Bamford sticks around – not necessarily as first choice but as part of the squad.
“The thing is, there are good things about Bamford’s game. But some of the finishing is chronic and it’s started to look like a confidence issue.
“As ever, it’s the finishing with Bamford. A sitter of a header early on which probably would have changed the tone of the game and stopped Boro getting into their stride.”
Bamford is struggling to score in the Championship and he’s got a worse record in the Premier League.
In 27 appearances for Middlesbrough, Burnley and Norwich in the top flight, he’s only managed to score one goal.
That’s a big worry for Leeds and it must be a concern for Bamford.
If Bamford is demoted to being a squad player for Leeds next season, Augustin is the man who’s likely to take his place.
He still hasn’t started for Leeds and is now out for the game against Hull with a hamstring injury.
That means his involvement this season is going to be seriously limited and it’s possible he might not start a game for his new club this campaign.
That means he’s still going to be an unknown for the Premier League, but Leeds obviously bought him for the future and have confidence in his talent.
In other Leeds United news, ‘You know what?’ – Ally McCoist predicts what will happen to Bamford after latest blank