David Prutton believes another injury issue for Patrick Bamford has put the focus on Leeds United’s interest in signing a new striker for Jesse Marsch’s team during the summer sales.
David Prutton feels Patrick Bamford injury put ‘sharper focus’ on Leeds search
Patrick Bamford is likely to miss Leeds United’s Premier League fixture at home to Chelsea on Sunday after sustaining a minor groin injury. And David Prutton has noted in his column for the Yorkshire Evening Post the blow puts a focus on Jesse Marsch’s search for a striker.
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Marsch has started Bamford in each of the Whites’ games to open the 2022/23 campaign, and awarded him the captain’s armband in each, as well. But the American had to replace the 28-year-old with Dan James after only 28 minutes against Southampton last Saturday.
Bamford has admitted on The Official Leeds United Podcast that his strain was likely due to his lack of match sharpness. The one-cap England international only started in seven of his nine Premier League appearances last season, due to a string of ankle, hip and foot issues.
“I have got a slight groin injury,” Bamford said. “I will probably miss the Chelsea game, but I think it is just part and parcel of coming back.
“I barely played last year and barely trained, as well. The amount of times I trained from when I first got injured until the end of the [2021/22] season was probably less than 10. It was basically like a whole year out. Until I felt it on Saturday, I felt alright.”
His season also ended in March after suffering a full rupture of his plantar fascia, as James, Rodrigo and Joe Gelhardt took over point duty. But the trio could only finish the campaign with four, six and two Premier League goals respectively from 32, 31 and 20 games each.
Leeds are in the market for a new striker this summer
Leeds are in the market for a new striker this summer, given the horrendous injury record Bamford had last season. 90min report the Whites are in talks with Zurich to sign Wilfried Gnonto, whilst the Daily Mail link Everton and Wolves target Che Adams of Southampton.
Prutton is confident Leeds director of football Victor Orta will not hesitate to give Marsch the green light to sign a striker, given his need to support Bamford. But the Whites chief will only act if the right deal emerges, as he keeps the Elland Road side’s spending in check.
“I feel for Patrick, because I think we are all dying for him to get back to full fitness and to be able to play a prolonged part,” Prutton wrote.
“But it does bring the club’s striker options into sharper focus and getting a fully fit squad is something that has been unheard of at Leeds in the last couple of seasons. If the right player is there for the right price, then I presume it’s a go.
“But those two things can be poles apart, the right player and the right price. You can have the right player but a ridiculous price, and the wrong player at something you can afford. It’s a balancing act, but that’s where they earn the big bucks.”
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