Leeds United news: Mills points the finger after ‘massive’ Patrick Bamford injury twist in last 24 hours
Marcelo Bielsa’s gruelling fitness demands may be why Patrick Bamford kept breaking down for Leeds United.
That is the view of ex-Whites and England full-back Danny Mills, speaking exclusively to Football Insider as Bamford edges closer to a return to first-team action.
The striker was named on the bench for the first time since Leeds’ 2-2 draw with Brentford at the beginning of December as they lost 1-0 to Leicester City yesterday (5 March).
He injured himself after scoring his side’s late equaliser and has suffered numerous setbacks since.
As quoted by Leeds Live after the loss at the King Power, Jesse Marsch revealed Bamford was only fit enough to play 10 minutes but could return to action against Aston Villa on Thursday (10 March).
He told the same outlet on Thursday (3 March) that Liam Cooper and Kalvin Phillips are also close to returning from long-term layoffs.
“It’s interesting timing that, unfortunately, Bielsa has gone and he’s available the following week,” Mills told Football Insider correspondent Connor Whitley.
“There has been one or two people talking about the levels of fitness Bielsa wants to get back into the first team. He wants them to be able to play murderball at 120 per cent and get all the right stats to get back into the team.
“Now, rightly or wrongly, that’s when some players break down because you push them too hard.
“Some managers allow a player to be at 80 per cent and grow their way back into the first team.
“These players are not a million miles away from fitness. Throw in Kalvin Phillips and Liam Cooper and that’s a huge bonus, they’ve been a massive miss since they’ve been out.”
In other news, a medical guru has revealed a new Cooper comeback date after a ‘red herring’ at Leeds United.