Agbonlahor lambasts Patrick Bamford after journalist’s Leeds United player reveal
Patrick Bamford is “nowhere near it” at Leeds United and should be replaced by Joe Gelhardt in the starting XI, according to Gabby Agbonlahor.
Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, the ex-Aston Villa and England attacker insisted Gelhardt is more “hungry and athletic” than Bamford and his lack of game time is “very strange”.
The 20-year-old has played just 28 minutes of football across four substitute appearances in the last four games and provided his first assist of the season in the 3-2 loss to Fulham on Sunday (23 October).
He was introduced from the bench with just six minutes to go against Fulham.
The Athletic’s Phil Hay reported during the game that Gelhardt was constantly looking at the bench waiting to be told he was coming on.
“I feel like Bamford is nowhere near it, I don’t know why he keeps getting game time,” Agbonlahor told Football Insider correspondent Connor Whitley.
“I’d give the youngster a chance, he’s hungry, more athletic and has got more about him than Bamford, for me. It’s very strange.
“Maybe he looks at the Liverpool game and changes it because it’s not working with Bamford, he doesn’t look athletic enough at the moment and doesn’t look like scoring.
“Gelhardt deserves a chance, for me. He’s lively and looks like he wants to impress. When you’re a youngster you want to impress and he looks like that.”
Bamford was introduced from the bench with just less than half an hour of the defeat to Fulham for his ninth appearance of the season.
The one-time England international is yet to register a goal or assist this term.
In other news, there has been a big Leeds United manager update as contact is made.