‘Nightmare’: BBC pundit compares Leeds player to Van Nistelrooy after playing against both

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Ashley Williams told Match of the Day on Tuesday evening that Leeds United striker Patrick Bamford is ‘very similar’ to Manchester United legend Ruud van Nistelrooy.

The former Wales defender played against the ‘nightmare’ Leeds hitman during his days in the Championship and also faced the deadly penalty box poacher during his early days as a professional.

On Tuesday, Leeds secured a top ten finish in the Premier League after they beat Southampton 2-0, with Bamford opening the scoring in the second half.

Harry Kane is the only Englishman with more goals that Leeds’ energetic forward, who has 16 league goals for the campaign, added with his seven assists.

Nonetheless, Williams shared what it’s like coming up against Bamford, as he paid him quite the compliment.

“Very difficult (to play against),” said Williams. “He’s not selfish at all. He’s for the team. He’s similar, different, but very similar styles to when I played against Van Nistelrooy.

“Always stretching and always going in beyond. And as a defender it’s a nightmare because you have to honour that run, which gives this space to all these midfielders.

“He is a definite team player. He is the type of striker that as a defender you love being on the same team as.

“He chases everything. He turns bad balls into good balls. He’s always harassing you. On your shoulder all the time and you cannot relax, at all.”

Leeds fans will now be wondering whether Bamford will earn that England call because many feel he deserves the nod.

Teams heading to the delayed Euros are now allowed to name 26 players rather than the usual 23, which does increase Bamford’s chances of going.

But all will be revealed by the end of the month, as Bamford will find out whether he will be putting his feet up for the summer or locking horns with the Scots next month.

Either way, if that call from Gareth Southgate doesn’t come then it will be very harsh on the striker who has been one of the top performing players this season.