Patrick Bamford had to be taken off during Leeds United’s recent under-23 clash due to an injury.
Marcelo Bielsa may have expected that the Leeds players that he needed to worry about during the international break were the ones that went off with their respective nations, but it currently appears that the player who is about to give him the biggest fitness headache is one who stuck around at Elland Road.
Patrick Bamford was one of the Leeds first-team stars who was handed the chance to get some minutes during the under-23 side’s clash with Bristol City last week, and the decision appeared to be a masterstroke with the striker struggling for game-time since joining the Whites.
Bamford scored a well-taken goal and Leeds were cruising to an emphatic victory, but the summer signing’s afternoon would end prematurely as he picked up a knee injury.
The Yorkshire Evening Post suggested that he was expected to be assessed at the weekend, but drove himself home from the ground, seemingly hinting that the club were encouraged that the problem may not be too serious.
Nevertheless, while it remains to be seen whether it is determined that Bamford is a doubt for the trip to Millwall this weekend or not, Tyler Roberts has to look at his teammate’s misfortune as a potential opportunity.
Roberts has endured a difficult spell at Leeds, but did impress with a couple of bright cameos for Wales. And those displays should perhaps leave Bielsa feeling confident that a gamble may not have to be taken on Bamford if he is not fully fit for the game against the Lions.
Roberts is going to have to do extremely well if given an opportunity if he wants to put pressure on Bamford in the pecking order. But perhaps, if Bamford’s injury is serious enough to rule him out this weekend, then the Millwall game could potentially prove to be a turning point for the former West Brom youngster.
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