Leeds United news: Former manager issues ‘unbelievable’ Patrick Bamford claim
Alex McLeish has suggested Patrick Bamford’s “unbelievable work rate” has contributed to his latest injury layoff at Leeds United.
Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, the former Scotland manager admitted he could see the 28-year-old suffering a breakdown due to “overloading” a while ago.
As confirmed by Leeds on Sunday (27 March), Bamford has been ruled out for six weeks with a ruptured plantar fascia, having suffered with the injury for 12 months.
Speaking to Sky Sports on Thursday (31 March), the hitman confessed he “almost forced” himself to play through the injury to “help the team”.
However, he admitted he knew it was a “matter of time” before the issue worsened.
Speaking to Football Insider back in March 2021, McLeish raised concerns over possible “burnout” for Bamford.
The ex-manager insisted his fears had come true.
“I suffered with a stress fracture in my toe near the end of my career,” McLeish told Football Insider’s Russell Edge.
“I played on for another year or two but it definitely hindered me. Bamford, I don’t like I told you so, but back in the day we did say Bamford had the most unbelievable work rate of any player I’ve seen.
“It’d be great to see the figures just to reinforce that. We always said that we thought he was a guy that was susceptible to overloading and possibly getting an injury.
“I’m sad to see it really happening but you can just kind of predict things due to your experience in the game.
“Bamford has had a heavy load over the last two or three years with his incessant running.”
McLeish suggested Bamford “needed a rest” after one of his numerous injury blows in November.
The striker has played just 10 times for Leeds this term.
In other news, pundit claims Leeds United may have “very impressed ” Kalvin Phillips replacement lined up.