Patrick Bamford 'touch and go' for Burnley clash as Leeds United striker eyes return - YEP 29/12/21
Patrick Bamford is closing in on a return to action for Leeds United.
By Joe Urquhart
The Whites striker has been limited to just six Premier
League appearances this term due to injury but is hopeful of featuring this weekend
against Burnley.
Last season's Elland Road top goalscorer made a stunning
comeback from a lengthy layoff earlier this month, shaking off an ankle issue
picked up in September to score a vital injury-time equaliser against Brentford
from the bench.
However, a hamstring problem picked up against the Bees amid
the wild celebrations has sidelined United's No 9 ever since.
Bamford, though, is stepping up his return to training in
the next few days and has his fingers firmly crossed that he could feature
against the Clarets on Sunday afternoon.
"The injury is coming along good," Bamford told
the Yorkshire Evening Post.
"I think it was almost a blessing in disguise that the
two games over Christmas got postponed, but yeah, it's coming along nicely. I
should be doing drills tomorrow [Thursday] and then we'll see how close we are.
Raising money for @andysmanclubuk , @EcoSchools and the @LufcFoundation . Match worn centenary shirt and Leeds number plate up for grabs 🙌🏽https://t.co/FRWhMM3X1l
— Patrick Bamford (@Patrick_Bamford) December 24, 2021
"It's touch and go for Burnley. I'm feeling good. I've
hit every marker that's been laid down so far day to day, so it's been a good
improvement. It's not a few weeks away. It's very close."
United's hosting of Burnley in LS11 will see Marcelo
Bielsa's men take to the pitch for the first time since December 16.
Boxing Day's trip to Anfield to face Liverpool fell foul to
a rearrangement due to a small Covid outbreak at Thorp Arch with the following
visit of Aston Villa to West Yorkshire also called off.
Bamford's return would provide a huge boost to Bielsa's
ranks should he be declared fit after no less than 10 senior players missed the
clash against the Gunners through injury, Covid and suspension.
"What the club has gone through is unheard of really.
You don't ever see that many injuries, especially in one go," Bamford
continued.
"Maybe throughout the season you'd get them spread out
but they have seemed to hit us all at once. It's just been unfortunate, we have
really been down to the bare bones.
"It'll be nice when we come back to have a full team.
This season everyone is saying Leeds are struggling but I don't think we've had
a full 11 for two games in a row.
"So there's not been that consistency compared to last
year. We will have that before the end of the season.
"It's not like we're right at the bottom of the league
and propping it up. We're still doing okay. It's just compared to last year and
what everyone expects, we're a little below that.