Phil Hay has revealed that Patrick Bamford had expected to have played more when fit for Leeds United this campaign.
While Bamford may indeed feel aggrieved by his lack of game time in the league this season having been afforded just 75 minutes under Jesse Marsch, it’s no surprise the American manager doesn’t trust him.
This is because his injury record is horrific and he simply can’t guarantee the striker is able to stay on the pitch for a prolonged period of time, with his fragility on show earlier this season when he was forced off after just 24 minutes against Southampton.
Hay has been speaking on The Phil Hay Show about how Bamford wishes he’d been handed more minutes with the first team despite hardly being fit.
He said: “I’m not actually sure that Bamford wants the pressure taken off him. The impression I’ve had recently is that he would like to have played more when he’s been fit – he’d have liked to have started more games than he has.
Does Bamford deserve to start when fit?
Yes!
No!
“He’d have liked to have been more involved. The issue is that every time there’s that feeling of him coming back, or that sight of him coming back, there is a problem. This latest one, he wasn’t fit for Tottenham, having missed the Wolves game, and also the Bournemouth game because of an injury picked up taking a penalty in training.”
TIF Thoughts on Patrick Bamford…
While it’s fair enough that Bamford, someone who’s been with Leeds for several years now and helped them get into the Premier League, wants to be playing more, there’s no reason why Marsch should risk the team and having to use an early substitution on an injury-prone striker.
This winter break could well have come at the perfect time for Bamford as he can focus on staying fit without the pressure of matches to prepare for over the next few weeks.
The remaining months of the season could well represent a make-or-break period for Bamford, as if he can’t stay fit, the club could well look to move him on as he’s taking up a spot in the squad while playing very few games – though if he can prove his fitness and find his goalscoring touch, Marsch could yet keep him around for at least another season.