Marcelo Bielsa has so far opted to make Patrick Bamford his number one striker, but could that change when Leeds United take on Sheffield Wednesday at the weekend?
Marcelo Bielsa has claimed that there has never been proof in training that Leeds United duo Patrick Bamford and Eddie Nketiah can play together and combine movement.
On Tuesday night, during Leeds’ 1-1 draw at Preston, Bielsa once again opted to start Bamford from the get-go, but it was Arsenal loanee Nketiah who would again come off the bench and rescue his team.
It once again fired the talk that Nketiah should either be starting ahead of Bamford, or Bielsa should start the duo together.
Bielsa admitted that both players have the capabilities of playing together, but suggested for one reason or another – such as few chances to prepare because of midweek games or because of the international break – the attack-minded duo have now shown that they should be starting together judging by training.
“They can play together,” Bielsa told Leeds Live. “They should play one behind the other. This play will be Bamford, naturally. Take this kind of decision you can take in two different ways. For one clear need of the team, or because you are convinced they can play together and combine movement between them. We never had proof of this kind of combination in our training.
“Nketiah is not with us in the international break, because we play twice a week. In the week when we prepare there are few chances to try these things. The other reason is when you have a series of bad results and you have to find a different solution. That didn’t happen.
“I think all these around Bamford and Nketiah doesn’t help either of them. Nketiah has to make the function to try to change the course of the match when we are losing and he’s not playing. Bamford appears responsible for Nketiah not playing.”
Perhaps what Leeds fans want to see the most is Nketiah given a start in the league by his manager, whether that be on his own or alongside Bamford.
On paper, they both should complement one another’s game, but Nketiah’s constant knocking on the door surely has to be heard by Bielsa sooner rather than later.
At the weekend, Leeds will take on their neighbours Sheffield Wednesday and former manager Garry Monk in a mouthwatering Championship clash, which could see either team move to the top of the table with a win.
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