Leeds United are without injured forward Patrick Bamford.
Leeds United striker Patrick Bamford has told Leeds Live that he expected to more downbeat about his injury blow than he has been, having been ruled out until 2019.
Leeds were desperate for a new striker over the summer, and whilst a host of names were linked, the Whites ended up raiding Middlesbrough for Bamford.
Director of football Victor Orta signed Bamford for Boro in January 2017, and then struck a deal to reunite with the striker at Elland Road to boost Marcelo Bielsa’s attacking options.
It’s fair to say that Bamford hasn’t quite lived up to the potential he showed in his early years at Chelsea, but he remains a decent Championship goalscorer – but his Leeds career has already suffered a dent.
After starting the campaign behind Kemar Roofe in the Leeds striking pecking order, Bamford grabbed his first goal in the Carabao Cup tie with Bolton in August, and started only one other game and played just 54 Championship minutes before disaster struck.
In an Under-23 clash against Bristol City, Bamford suffered posterior cruciate ligament damage, meaning he faces a fourth-month lay-off and will be out until at least January.
That’s a major blow for Bamford, but he has told Leeds Live that he is surprised as he expected to be feeling worse about his news than he has, as apart from straight after his injury, he has been ‘pretty upbeat’, and feels he can’t do anything but look forward to returning, and was pleased to have received so many nice messages about his recovery.
“The messages are really nice,” said Bamford. “To be honest, I expected to have a couple of bad days the way I was feeling and stuff, be a bit down, but apart from straight after the game when I was driving home, I’ve actually been pretty upbeat about it, and I’ve thought, you know what, it’s part of the job, part of the territory and there’s nothing else I can do so just look forward,” he added.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
