Liam Cooper has shared that ‘nobody works harder’ at Thorp Arch than Leeds United striker Patrick Bamford after another weekend to forget for the player.
The Leeds defender stated that it has been a ‘rough year’ for Bamford given the injuries he has had to deal with, and on Sunday, he was in the thick of the action against Arsenal.
Bamford missed the chance to equalise for Jesse Marsch’s side in the second half when he drove his penalty past Aaron Ramsdale’s post.
The drama didn’t stop there for the 29-year-old because, in stoppage-time, he thought he had another penalty when he was involved in a few handbags with Gabriel.
That crucial call was overturned by VAR and Leeds’ valiant effort against the Premier League’s leaders resulted in them still searching for their first win in the league since August.
Bamford isn’t anywhere near his best because he only returned from injury, but Cooper was full of praise and encouragement for his teammate, as he told the club’s official Twitter account.
“Jesse has asked a lot of Pat,” said Cooper. “He has had a rough year. Nobody works harder. Strikers have these patches of form.
“When we got the second penalty, which then wasn’t, Pat was the first one, he said ‘no, I am having it’. That’s a credit to him and that’s the type of character we need in the team.”
BAMFORD WILL COME GOOD
It has been well over a year since Bamford has been able to play on a regular basis, without any injuries or setbacks.
When his engine was red hot, the Chelsea academy product was knocking on England’s door and even earning his maiden cap for his country.
But it has just been stop-start since then, which hasn’t helped his cause, nor Leeds’.
Games are coming thick and fast now for Leeds, ahead of the 2022 World Cup, and it’s a great chance for Bamford to show what he is all about because if Marsch can find that cutting edge up front again, then their luck will turn.
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