Patrick Bamford expectations reset at Leeds United after surprise Burnley absence
Patrick Bamford’s unexpected absence from the Leeds United squad to face Burnley has forced another reset to expectations of him, according to Beren Cross.
The Leeds Live journalist suggested for the outlet’s website on 15 September that the assumption that the striker could be a factor imminently will have to be pushed back after he was left out despite returning to full training after injury.
Bamford was a “surprise” absentee when the players arrived at Elland Road as Max Wober also didn’t pass a late fitness test [Cross, 14 September], with Daniel Farke revealing after the 1-0 home loss that the striker had not suffered a new injury.
Cross wrote: “It is simply a case of managing Bamford even more carefully than before. The 31-year-old was not even considered worth the risk of five minutes from the bench at the end of the match.”
Mateo Joseph miss makes Leeds United need clearer
Bamford may continue to be a divisive figure among the Whites fanbase, as well as outside of it, but while he remains in the squad he would be an asset if fit.
The noise around him would probably make a move and a replacement signing the ideal solution for all parties.
But he looks unlikely to have many landing spots as it is and his latest injury set back ended the chance of him leaving before the transfer deadline anyway.
There will still be hopes that he can have a positive impact on the season since he toiled through the opening months of last term before being inserted into the line up and responding with a run of scoring in the New Year.
Joel Piroe’s form is uneven, especially if Farke insists on using him as a number 10, and while Mateo Joseph is the man for the future his awful first-minute miss against the Clarets showed that other options still need to be available.
But the manager will also know that and if he still decided not to risk Bamford even being available as an option it isn’t a great sign.
It should be remembered that constant fitness issues will be most frustrating for the man himself, but despite plans during the summer to sign a new striker this summer [Daily Mail, 24 August] he still remains the most natural number nine in the squad.
Yet after Saturday the prospect of him making a start looks a long way off, so Joseph will need to rebound quickly.
In other Leeds United news, a regular Whites starter knows where he wants to leave for if the club don’t work out a way to keep him.
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