Graham Smyth: Leeds United could still take major Patrick Bamford risk this season with injury
Leeds United forward Patrick Bamford is nearing his return to action following yet another injury.
Despite returning at Thorp Arch, Graham Smyth has reported that the striker is not ready to feature at Arsenal on Sunday afternoon [08 May].
The Yorkshire Evening Post journalist did suggest that the Whites may take a big risk with the striker should they need points in this relegation battle.
Writing in his latest piece for the Yorkshire Evening Post, Smyth shared the risk that may be taken this month.
“Even if the need is urgent, Bamford plainly isn’t ready, so at Arsenal, it will be Rodrigo, Gelhardt or James,” he wrote.
“For Chelsea, you would think, the same will be true and even Brighton might come too soon.
“But if, as Marsch expects, points are still needed by the time Brentford rolls around, Bamford will surely return to the squad. It won’t be ideal but nothing ever is.”
Desperation.
Bamford has been a huge loss for most of this season, and we have had to try and fight through with no out-and-out number nine.
In those games he returned against Norwich and Wolves, you could see the presence of a target man in the final third help dramatically.
We have since had to cope with Dan James and Rodrigo in those roles, and neither are pure strikers which has led to big trouble.
The number of balls into the box that have gone all the way through with no one near them only proves what we are lacking.
Bamford may not be 100% between now and the end of the season, but if we don’t pick up anything at Arsenal, he has to be brought back in.
The England international could start on the bench against Chelsea and make a cameo, before starting against Brentford and Brighton.
We have no choice but to throw him in with the stakes of staying in the Premier League so high, no one would complain.
In other Leeds United news, Paul Merson has predicted that Saturday developments will put ‘massive’ pressure on the Whites