Expert: Bielsa may have to ‘reign in’ Bamford after Leeds training ground reveal
Marcelo Bielsa may have to “reign in” any hopes Patrick Bamford has of starting for Leeds United against West Ham on Sunday (9 January).
That is the view of injury expert Ben Dinnery, who runs the Premier Injuries site and has a background in medicine and data analysis.
Bamford, who has just five starts to his name this season, is into the fourth week of his hamstring-enforced absence.
The 28-year-old picked up the muscle problem just 22 minutes into his return from an ankle injury in the 2-2 draw with Brentford on 5 December.
Bielsa revealed that “having not done any training sessions” the striker’s return had been made more difficult, per the Yorkshire Evening Post last Thursday (30 December).
But Dinnery claims that, while it is unlikely that he will start, Bamford has a decent chance of getting at least some minutes in the cup against West Ham.
“The player himself said he is in with a chance of playing against Burnley last weekend,” he told Football Insider‘s Adam Williams.
“He will be pushing for a return and the coach will maybe reign in those ideas a little bit. They need to try and protect him. It’s a difficult one.
“We know he was injured on that return from a long-standing ankle problem. You have got to be extremely careful.
“We’re talking about three and a bit months since he last started a competitive game. So I’d expect him to be in and around the matchday squad.
“I wouldn’t think Bielsa would start him, but it’s a chance to get minutes in his legs before the Premier League game against West Ham.”
Leeds play West Ham again, this time in the Premier League, next Sunday week (16 January).
The Whites sit in 16th place after 19 games.
In other news, pundit issues “huge” Stuart Dallas claim after what’s “gone on behind the scenes” at Leeds United.