Patrick Bamford tipped to spearhead Leeds Premier League return – expert
Leeds United will be catapulted back into the Premier League if Patrick Bamford bangs in 20 goals this season.
Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, ex-Scotland striker Frank McAvennie believes the 31-year-old striker still has the ability to be a difference-maker for Leeds United but will need to work hard and ‘step up.’
Daniel Farke’s side are back on track, securing two separate 2-0 victories over fellow Yorkshire sides Sheffield Wednesday and Hull City after an underwhelming start to the season.
Academy product Mateo Joseph has seemingly supplanted Bamford’s position in the starting eleven, scoring once and providing two assists in the Championship this season.
Patrick Bamford can still lead the line for Leeds United
Bamford’s only start so far this season came in Leeds’ heavy 3-0 defeat to former club Middlesbrough in the League Cup.
With a grand total of 112 minutes under his belt across all competitions, the ex-England international is yet to make a single goal contribution for his club.
“I would have liked them to bring in a top striker”, McAvennie told Football Insider.
“You can’t beat having someone that’s going to get you 20 goals a season, that’s what Bamford did a couple of years ago.
“He’s been their man for ages, can he still do that? From what I’ve seen of Patrick, I don’t think so, unless he steps up.
“He’s not shown me that he can score 20 goals this year, if he can do it or they bring someone in who can they’ll be in the Premier League next year.”
In other news, Leeds fans stunned by what Ethan Ampadu did vs Hull as new footage drops.
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