‘I am a lazy player’: £10m Leeds man shares to fans that he has changed

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Patrick Bamford told UMM’s official YouTube channel that he used to be a ‘lazy player’ three or four years ago, but Leeds have changed him.

The £10 million Leeds hitman (BBC Sport) was told that he is up there in terms of the most distance covered by Premier League players this season.

That wouldn’t surprise the Leeds faithful because they have been used to that for a number of years now.

But Bamford has shared that he wasn’t like that previously, and Leeds, namely Marcelo Bielsa, have changed him and, as a result, taken his game to ‘another level’.

“If you would have asked me that probably three or four years ago then I would have said ‘no, I am a lazy player’,” said Bamford.

“I am not the kind of guy who would run around and do extra work that you don’t need to do as a striker.

“But that’s down to the manager really. He’s kind of instilled that in me. I think that’s what has helped me take my game to another level.

“But I wouldn’t say that I am the hardest-working player in the Premier League.”

With Bamford’s goals, ability to produce Man of the Match displays without getting on the scoresheet, making those around him better, his intelligence on the counter and his sheer work rate, it is a surprise that he didn’t earn an England call last time out.

Aston Villa’s Ollie Watkins deserved his call, but Gareth Southgate perhaps would have been better off calling both players.

And whilst Bamford may have had ambitions of playing for his country at the Euros, he may now have to wait for that call because it’s bound to come sooner rather than later.