Patrick Bamford may be ‘impossible’ to drop in early Leeds United team news v Cardiff
Phil Hay has claimed Patrick Bamford may have made himself impossible to drop at Elland Road after scoring two goals in two games for Leeds United in the space of seven days.
The Athletic journalist shared on 9 January that Bamford has stood out as an out-and-out centre forward, while Joel Piroe, whose place he has taken in the side, is more often used as a number ten.
This has allowed Georginio Rutter to drop into the deeper role, with Bamford leading the line, and goals against Birmingham and Peterborough are proof that the change has benefited Leeds.
Writing for The Athletic [9 January], Hay shared: “A look at his history shows that Bamford tends to be streaky; that without being consistently prolific, one goal leads to several in quick succession.
“Which leaves Farke to decide if Bamford, in the space of seven days, has made himself impossible to drop away at Cardiff City on Saturday.
“Despite the expensive signing of Joel Piroe from Swansea City in the summer, Bamford continues to look as close to an out-and-out centre-forward as anything Leeds have on their books.”
Time to put a run together
It would be hard to argue any logical reason for dropping Bamford from the team as Leeds prepare to face Cardiff on 13 January, with two goals in his last two games including a screamer against Peterborough making him the most in-form attacker at Elland Road.
To remove him from the starting lineup now in favour of Piroe, who has found the net just once in his last seven Championship appearances, would almost be an insult to the work Bamford has put in to return to his best.
There were questions even in the buildup to the Birmingham game when he was named in the starting lineup about the Englishman’s waning ability and whether he had a long-term future at Elland Road, but his last performances have shown he does.
If he can continue the form he has shown in his last couple of appearances for Leeds, and keep his goal-per-game record up when they visit Cardiff, Bamford could secure himself a starting place at last.
In other Leeds United news, Celtic want to sign a Leeds attacker in January.