Leeds United will put their faith in youthful forward trio Tyler Roberts, Jack Clarke and Ryan Edmondson after losing Patrick Bamford for four months, according to the Yorkshire Evening Post.
The regional newspaper claim the Championship leaders have no plans to sign a free agent to provide forward cover until the new year, when the January window opens.
The Yorkshire Evening Post report manager Marcelo Bielsa will put his faith in teenage attackers Roberts, 19, Clarke, 17, and Edmondson, also 17, and fast-track them into the first team for league matches.
OPINION
Given that Roberts, Clarke and Edmondson have yet to open their Leeds goal accounts, and have just three appearances for the club between them – including just 14 minutes of league action – it would be quite a statement of faith from Bielsa to trust them with providing cover for main man Kemar Roofe. Bamford’s absence until 2019 with cruciate damage, which was confirmed on Monday, is a shattering blow for Leeds. He has played second fiddle to Roofe since his £7million arrival but his Championship track record is impressive and he is a quality player who will be missed. Roberts made two substitute appearances for Wales during the international break but has barely been seen in a Leeds shirt since his arrival in January from West Brom, primarily due to injury. Can he kickstart his Elland Road career? He will certainly get opportunities to do what the likes of Caleb Ekuban and Jay-Roy Grot could not last season. Clarke and Edmondson are younger and very raw, but have been key players for the dominant Under-23s side.