Patrick Bamford is set to start once again for Leeds United at the weekend as Eddie Nketiah will have to settle for the bench.
Tony Pulis has waded in on the drama surrounding Leeds United duo Patrick Bamford and Eddie Nketiah by claiming that the Arsenal loanee is not starting because he’s ‘not used to running’.
The former Premier League manager thinks that Nketiah’s time playing academy football with Arsenal has played a part in him not starting as many games as he would have liked for Leeds.
Whilst Nketiah has started EFL Cup matches for Marcelo Bielsa’s side, he is yet to start a Championship match, with his manager sticking with the more experienced Bamford.
Speaking to Sky Sports Football (23/10/19 at 7:10 pm), Pulis shared his thoughts on the Nketiah-Bamford situation and seemingly backed Bielsa in what he is doing, as he made a potentially bizarre claim about the Arsenal man.
“I don’t think Bielsa will have players in the team who don’t run a certain distance,” Pulis told Sky Sports. “The lads not used to running having played academy football. Running and working the way Bielsa would want him to work.
“They had Roofe last season, who I thought was the outstanding player. They have missed him a little bit. I don’t think they are as strong there yet. But having said that they are another team, and I will be really surprised if they are not there or thereabouts at the end of the season.”
The problem lies with the fact that Leeds are once again showing signs from last season that they are unable to kill teams off, with Bamford seemingly being at the heart of their problems.
Meanwhile, like on Tuesday night, Nketiah is coming off the bench and rescuing his team yet he is not being rewarded with any starts which is frustrating a lot of fans.
Leeds dropped points again in midweek, and on Saturday, they take on Sheffield Wednesday where a defeat could see them fall down the table and add more pressure on Bamford’s shoulders.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
