Mick McCarthy has insisted Leeds United are heading for promotion to the Premier League despite their defeat to Sheffield United on Saturday.
The Republic of Ireland manager, who is a a lifelong Leeds fan, gave a thumbs-up to the club’s promotion hunt despite them ending the weekend third in the Championship behind Norwich City and Chris Wilder’s team.
Speaking in the context of Patrick Bamford putting his international ambitions on hold, McCarthy said, as quoted by the Yorkshire Evening Post: “I do understand it, he has been out for a long time and they [Leeds] look like they are going to get promoted and he doesn’t want anything else going on in his head.”
OPINION
It has been an agonising weekend for Whites. Their own side lost a marquee derby fixture at home to Sheffield United despite playing extremely well, while their two automatic promotion rivals secured three points apiece. It means Leeds are set to begin the international break licking their wounds while leaders Norwich City (78 points) can reflect on a four-point advantage over second-placed Sheffield (74), and five points ahead of Leeds (73). West Brom pulled to within six points of third with their Saturday triumph, but that is a lot of ground to make up in the last eight matches of the campaign. It still looks a three-horse race, although McCarthy’s optimistic verdict is unlikely to be shared by Leeds supporters, many of whom are starting to fret about losing out on the top-two finish that has been within their club’s grasp all season.