The Leeds United marksman is eyeing a drastically better second season.
Patrick Bamford has told The Yorkshire Evening Post that he is capable of hitting the 25-goal barrier this season – if he stays fit.
Bamford had a mixed first season at Elland Road last term following a £7 million switch from Middlesbrough [The Daily Mail].
The 25-year-old managed nine Championship goals in 23 appearances – only 16 were starts – in what was a stop-start campaign due to injury.
He didn’t play from September until December, and then immediately found himself on the sidelines again until February.
“There’s always going to be that pressure, when you’re at a big club like Leeds. For me it’s something I embrace. I expect myself to score as many goals as I can,” he told The YEP.
With a cruciate injury it’s tough, it takes a while to feel normal again but since we’ve been back for pre-season my knees have felt brilliant, felt the same as each other. Obviously every striker wants to clear the 20, 25 mark and hopefully with a full season I’m capable of doing that.”
There could be a tonne of pressure on Bamford this season, which begins for Leeds away at Bristol City on Sunday.
The Whites look set to lose Kemar Roofe to Belgium and, with Tyler Roberts injured, the former Chelsea striker will be Marcelo Bielsa’s only fit and senior striker.
It’s imperative that United recruit some competition for Bamford if and when Roofe goes. Their entire season could depend on it.
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