Patrick Bamford had been celebrating his goal just a few minutes earlier when he went down playing for the under 23’s last Friday. It was quite obvious it was something painful but when the news broke today it would be four months out, it was a shock. It was a nasty shock as well, and questions are now rising.
📰 | #LUFC striker Patrick Bamford faces four months on the sidelines after suffering a PCL injury during last Friday’s U23s game
— Leeds United (@LUFC) September 11, 2018
Marcelo Bielsa obviously wanted the first-team players who haven’t been playing to get some game time. It keeps them sharp and means they can stay fit having featured little in the first-team. Although there is risk involved for me this makes sense. It’s extremely bad luck for the club and even worse for Bamford himself. A player who left Middlesbrough in search of being the “main man” at a club for the first time hasn’t started anywhere near like what he would have wanted.
Bamford has initially struggled to make an impact due to the form of Kemar Roofe, the clear frontrunner for the strikers role at the club currently. Bamford has been limited to appearances off the bench as well as a couple of cup games. The international break gave Bielsa the chance to play some of the fringe players in the development game and as Jack Harrison, Lewis Baker and Jamal Blackman all breezed through it to plan, Bamford has been left with a horrible injury.
Thanks to everyone for the messages of support. I’m gutted by the news but I’ll be back ready to help the team as soon as possible and I’ll be behind the boys all the way in the meantime. #MOt 💪🏽
— Patrick Bamford (@Patrick_Bamford) September 11, 2018
The question is simple, who now if not Roofe? Ryan Edmondson is probably next in line although Izzy Brown could potentially player there, neither are ideal for different reasons but it offers chances. Perhaps Sam Dalby will be moved up into training with the first-team and we already know Tyler Roberts has played as a striker before. For now it’s time to assess and for the club help Bamford get over this as quickly as possible.
