Exclusive: Danny Mills claims ‘Powerful’ Leeds 20-yr-old could take place of Bielsa mainstay

Sat 9 November 2019 11:25, UK

Danny Mills has claimed that Leeds United youngster Tyler Roberts could fill in for Patrick Bamford as a centre-forward if he can stay fully fit this season.

Speaking exclusively to Football Insider assistant editor Russell Edge, the former Leeds and England defender says the 20-year-old has got the physical presence to cause a problem to opposition defences and that he could step into a centre-forward’s role if needed.

While Bamford has started every Championship game for the Whites this season, manager Marcelo Bielsa is set to be without second-choice striker Eddie Nketiah until December, as revealed exclusively by Football Insider.

With a lack of alternative options at Elland Road, Mills claims that Roberts, who was a recognised centre-forward when he swapped West Brom for Leeds, could step in for Bamford if needed, having played mainly as an attacking midfielder this season.

Mills told Football Insider: “He’s a big, strong, powerful player, isn’t he? If you can get him fit and get him playing, he’s always going to be a threat and that’s what he was (against QPR).

“It was a very good finish, very, very calm finish, side footed, calm into the bottom corner, he didn’t slash at it.”

Roberts has played in a variety of positions under Bielsa since the Argentine’s arrival at Elland Road, including as a winger on both flanks and as a natural central midfielder.