Insider: Patrick Bamford in ‘red zone’ and facing new setback after ‘concerning’ Leeds United development
Leeds United should be concerned by Patrick Bamford missing their mid-season training camp.
That is the view of medical expert Ben Dinnery, who runs the Premier Injuries site and has a background in injury and data analysis, speaking exclusively to Football Insider.
Leeds confirmed earlier this week (4 December) that Bamford had undergone minor surgery on his groin.
The 30-year-old did not travel to Spain for their training camp but is expected to return within two weeks.
“The actual procedure itself, that isn’t any sort of major worry,” Dinnery told Football Insider‘s Connor Whitley.
“It might be a slight tear and we’ve seen players return to play within 14 days.
“But the caveat is that they don’t find anything underlying in there and everything is fine and then the recovery is smooth without a setback.
“Also, with Patrick Bamford, who has been severely hampered over the last 14, 15, 16 months with a couple of foot injuries and muscular setbacks.
“What would be more of a concern than the procedure, is the fact that he’s missing out on this mini pre-season programme which is there to bulletproof your players for the second half of the season. You’re missing that fundamental part of training.
“The data already tells us you’re in that red zone and at increased risk of picking up an injury. That is the concern, particularly for someone like Bamford.
“When Leeds first arrived in the Premier League he hit the ground running so he’ll want to come back and prove his fitness because he hasn’t necessarily been able to do that under Jesse Marsch.
“He’s constantly playing catch up and working hard away from the pitch.
“He has that pressure and expectation and all of this will be a heavy burden.”
In other news, Leeds United are plotting a move to re-sign a £100,000-a-week star in January.