Patrick Bamford provided an update on his recent injury as Leeds United prepare for their play-off final against Southampton. Bamford, who missed the last two matches of the regular season and the semi-final victory over Norwich City, suffered a knee injury during a game against Middlesbrough a month ago.
Initially believed to be just bruising, further assessment revealed it to be more serious than originally thought. Despite his eagerness to return for the final, Bamford has been offering support to his teammates off the pitch, including a pep talk to Georginio Rutter before the Norwich game.
With fellow injured players Pascal Struijk and Sam Byram also working towards recovery, Bamford remains hopeful but cautious about his own return to the squad. The timeline for his training and potential involvement in the final is tight, as he needs to start training by Wednesday to be match-fit.
Although Bamford’s presence on the pitch would be significant, especially against Southampton’s style of play, his confidence in making it to the final is not high. The coming days will be crucial in determining his availability, with Leeds requiring all players to be at their best for such an important match at Wembley. Here’s hoping for a speedy recovery for Bamford and positive news in the days leading up to the final.