OPINION
One of the biggest issues that Leeds United manager Marcelo Bielsa has had to deal with this season has been injuries, not least to the options he has in attack.
While Kemar Roofe has been banging the goals in left, right and centre so far there has been a distinct lack of options behind him, no thanks to the persistent injury problems suffered by summer signing Patrick Bamford.
The 25-year-old has missed a significant number of games already this season, managing just eight appearances for his new club with just one of those coming since August after both cruciate ligament damage and a knee injury.
With the title race in the Championship starting to reach boiling point, Saturday’s clash against second placed Norwich City is absolutely huge for the Whites and Bielsa could do with all the firepower he can get his hands on to clip the wings of the Canaries – so will Bamford be playing.
An official reveal on Saturday suggests he might well be.
Leeds’ under-23 side are in action earlier than the senior side against Birmingham City and the teamsheet from the Trillian Trophy Training Centre has no mention of Bamford, suggesting he is set to feature among the first team at Elland Road.
?Here’s how Blues Under-23s line up to play @LUFC Under-23s.
#BCFCu23s pic.twitter.com/RudAtQv4dJ
— BCFC Academy (@BCFCAcademy) February 2, 2019
The under-23s is the place where Marcelo Bielsa has put players who are coming back from injury to regain their fitness – hence Izzy Brown’s inclusion – and Bamford’s absence surely means that he is set to have a part to play against Norwich.
His return will be a huge boost to the Whites’ hopes, offering some serious attacking firepower from the bench, and Bielsa will be delighted to have him back in action.