Daniel Farke heaps praise on ‘big name’ Patrick Bamford as he prepares return to Leeds United action
Daniel Farke has heaped praise on Patrick Bamford, calling him a “big name in English football” as he prepares to return to Leeds United action.
The 30-year-old striker hasn’t featured yet under the Leeds United boss having suffered a hamstring injury during pre-season and in his absence Joel Piroe and Geroginio Rutter have flourished in attack, seemingly relegating Bamford to a reserve role.
But Farke has continued to sign the praises of the former England international as he prepares to welcome him back to his side, believing that he can be a positive presence in the changing room and help inspire the other members of his side.
As quoted by Leeds Live on Friday (29 September) Farke said: “We’re not just here to help Patrick, it’s more like the other way around. Patrick is here to help us and we are all unbelievably happy he’s back because he’s a quality player.
“He’s an experienced player and it’s always a good feeling, as a player, when you are in the dressing room and you head into games and you watch to the left and then you see Patrick Bamford next to you. Big name in English football. He didn’t win the cap for England in the lottery. He’s a quality player. He has proved this for this club.
“With more than 20 goals he got this club promoted and then, sadly, he had a difficult spell due to injuries.”
Quality
Farke’s man management has earned him a lot of praise since he took over at Elland Road and it is completely deserved as despite overseeing a tumultuous summer of squad turnover, it feels as though he’s made every player still in his squad full of confidence.
Bamford is unlikely to return to the side and immediately be involved from the off and start week in and week out, but that doesn’t mean he isn’t a valuable asset to have in the Leeds United changing room, given his vast experience at a variety of levels.
Teams that are successful in the Championship don’t tend to just have the best starting XI, instead, they typically have strength in depth that allows them to navigate the congested calendar without sustained periods of poor form because of players picking up injuries or suspension.
In a 48-game season, Bamford will be required to start instead of Piroe and Rutter from time to time and there aren’t many sides in England’s second tier that can boast having an England international as their third-choice forward option.
Hopefully, he can stay fit and replicate the form that fired Leeds to the Premier League the last time he was in the Championship. If anyone can get that out of him it’s likely to be Farke.
In other Leeds United news, Rutter has opened up about his tough first season at Elland Road in the top-flight