Leeds United’s Patrick Bamford has silenced the critics during a stunning start to the season with Perry Groves admitting that the late-blooming striker has come on leaps and bounds under Marcelo Bielsa, while speaking to talkSPORT (30 October, 10.20pm).
It is easy to forget that this is not Bamford’s first rodeo.
Leeds’ number nine has had spells in the Premier League before but, after notching just one goal in 27 games at Burnley, Crystal Palace, Norwich and Middlesbrough, few would have predicted that he would be sitting third in the Golden Boot standings six games into the new campaign.
A stunning treble away at Aston Villa on Friday means ‘Hat-trick Bamford’ now has six goals since Leeds were promoted back to the big time.
And for Groves, who felt the 27-year-old looked ‘out of his depth’ during a spell at Norwich in 2016, his stunning form is a welcome surprise.
“He’s scored some brilliant goals (this season). I saw Patrick play live when he was at Norwich on loan and, at the time, I said he looked like a competition winner. He looked so far out of his depth in the Premier League,” the Arsenal legend said.
“Everybody was saying ‘he’s a proven Championship player’. But what he’s found in Bielsa is a manager who absolutely buys into him.
“We talk about Jose Mourinho with Dele Alli, someone who doesn’t buy into you. (Bielsa) really buys into Patrick Bamford. He suits the way Leeds play.”
Speaking to talkSPORT on Thursday, Bamford played down suggestions from the likes of Emile Heskey that he could be an option for Gareth Southgate’s England squad.
But the Three Lions boss has a history when it comes to handing out caps to unproven talents with over 30 players, including Dominic Solanke, Declan Rice, Lewis Cook and Nathaniel Chalobah, making their debuts for England since 2016.
If Bamford keeps on going, a place on the Euro 2021 plane may be within his grasp.
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