TalkSport pundit Gabriel Agbonlahor has raised concerns for Leeds United at centre-forward, with Patrick Bamford not looking the same following an injury-ridden spell.
After scoring 17 goals and assisting a further eight in Leeds’ first campaign back in the top flight in 16 years, Bamford was unable to build upon it having undergone a torrid time with injury.
The 29-year-old has again been in and out of the team this year and made only his third start at Crystal Palace last Sunday.
However, having had just 26 touches and missing one big chance (SofaScore), Jesse Marsch hauled the striker off just past the hour.
Speaking to Football Insider amid Bamford’s woes, Agbonlahor believes that the Whites need to invest at the top end of the pitch.
He said: “What they are missing is a striker who can put the ball in the back of the net. Bamford looks a million miles off it. He’s got no legs, not a lot of energy and he’s not even holding the ball up anymore.
“Rodrigo has been erratic when he’s played there. They are really missing out on a top striker. Apart from that, they are really entertaining.
“Bamford never had speed but he looks even slower now, sluggish. Even when the ball’s coming up to him for a one-two off a player, he’s getting beat by a defender. He doesn’t look agile and sometimes injuries can do that to you.
“That’s why he was brought off. He doesn’t look at it at the moment.
“He might need games to get his fitness back, but at the moment, he looks like a shadow of the Bamford I saw two years ago.”
TIF Thoughts on Agbonlahor’s comments…
Is Bamford good enough for Leeds?Yes!
No!
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Indeed, Bamford is perhaps just working his way back to form having played little over 800 minutes of Premier League football since the start of last season.
He hasn’t appeared in more than three successive games since last September, and while the club did struggle at the foot of the table without his goals last term, Rodrigo had looked to be stepping up to the plate at the beginning of the campaign.
The Spaniard netted four times in the first three games before being struck down by injury himself.
With both men now available, their luck should change, and it would help Leeds end a five-game winless run, but if problems persist, perhaps the West Yorkshire club will look to the market to solve their striking woes.