Marcelo Bielsa has revealed Patrick Bamford is ready to be used as a substitute by Leeds United but strongly hinted he won’t start against Bolton Wanderers on Saturday.
The centre-forward scored a hat-trick for Leeds Under-23s in their 6-3 triumph against Burnley earlier this week as he played the full 90 minutes of the match.
Speaking at his media briefing on Thursday, as quoted by the official Leeds Twitter account and Radio Leeds journalist Adam Pope, Bielsa acknowledged how “important” it is for Bamford that he netted three goals.
But the manager says he more minutes under his belt at senior level before he can start games as he explained the summer signing is ready for an extended spell on the bench.
? | Marcelo on Patrick Bamford's U23s performance: "He scored three goals, and for a number nine it's an important thing. He is well, and he is available. Of course, to reach the level that he was at before his injury, he needs more activity and more games."
— Leeds United (@LUFC) December 13, 2018
Bielsa happy with Bamford’s hat trick in midweek v Burnley U23s. He needs more action but could start or be on bench if required. Brown progressing but not likely to be involved with 1st team yet as he works on the intensity required – change of direction & short sprints #lufc
— Adam Pope (@apopey) December 13, 2018
OPINION
It appears the best Bamford can hope for on Saturday is a late cameo as he looks to get his first Championship minutes since early September. The 25-year-old played second fiddle at the start of the campaign to first-choice spearhead Kemar Roofe and that scenario is set to repeat itself now Bamford is fully recovered from the knee injury that sidelined him for three months. Leeds fans are certainly getting excited by the club’s attacking options now they have Bamford to challenge Roofe for the main striker role, as well as Izzy Brown, another summer arrival, closing in on a return after nearly a year on the sidelines. It certainly bodes well for the club ahead of the festive period that there are some genuinely quality options for Bielsa, who has had to use youth-team players and rookies as back-up over the last month or two due to a seemingly never-ending stream of serious injuries.