Patrick Bamford takes injection for ligament injury to play for Leeds United v Southampton – Phil Hay
Patrick Bamford is suffering with a ligament problem in his knee and is taking injections in the hope of playing for Leeds against Southampton, according to Phil Hay.
Writing on his personal X account (2 May), The Athletic journalist reports that Daniel Farke was hopeful of having the striker back in training by now after he suffered a bruised knee in the 4-3 win over Middlesbrough, which forced him to miss the 4-0 defeat to QPR a few days later.
But Bamford has yet to train this week and Hay shared that the 30-year-old is having issues with a knee ligament as a result of the bruise, and is undergoing injection therapy in order to try and be available for the final game of the regular season.
“Farke says he hoped Bamford would be back earlier than this,” he wrote.
“Bruise is affecting a ligament and he’s still not ready. He’s had some injection therapy.”
Major blow for Leeds United v Southampton
As poor as Leeds were in the 4-0 defeat to QPR, the absence of Bamford was felt more than most would have anticipated because the team did create odd chances.
There was one incident in particular where the ball was flashed across the six-yard box and Joel Piroe was nowhere to be seen, but everyone watching will have known that Bamford would have been waiting for a tap in had he been playing.
Farke even confirmed after the game that he would have preferred for the former England international to be available, which shows how much his importance has grown in recent months.
Leeds know they simply must beat Southampton at Elland Road to stand any chance of automatic promotion on the final day, although they also need Huddersfield to do them a favour against Ipswich at Portman Road.
Bamford will be pushing hard to be fit so he can be the hero, but Farke must make a decision if it’s worthwhile risking him if he isn’t completely fit or if that will hamper the team more than his absence.
In other Leeds news, Farke is set to axe one £10m dude in two changes for the clash with Southampton.
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