Jesse Marsch reveals latest on Patrick Bamford as Leeds United eye striker's return - YEP 21/4/22
Jesse Marsch is 'cautiously optimistic' that Patrick Bamford will return for Leeds United's final two games of the season.
By Graham Smyth
The striker has been running on the club's anti-gravity treadmill
this week as he works his way back from a torn plantar fascia in his foot and
Marsch expects Bamford back out on the grass next week.
Leeds have six games remaining in their Premier League
relegation battle and Marsch believes Bamford, whose season has been ravaged by
various injuries, will have a part to play.
"I do think it's feasible," said the American.
"I think he's exactly on track for where we had hoped
he would be. We're trying to be cautious and aggressive at the same time, and
that's always the balancing act."
Bamford is an extreme example of the way injuries have made
life difficult for Leeds in the top flight this season. The once-capped England
forward has had an ankle problem, a hamstring issue, a quad injury and foot
pain. Several players have suffered from hamstring injuries and key men have
missed big chunks of the campaign.
Marsch credits the medical staff however for getting players
back fit on schedule.
"I think one of the things that you have to give credit
to with the medical team here is is there are statistics that have shown that
we've had a lot of injuries over the past year, but that we get players to
return quicker than a lot of places do and I think that's a credit to the
medical staff and what they've been able to accomplish. So, for example, Junior
Firpo came back much quicker than we had thought he would. So I would say that,
Patrick, I'm cautiously optimistic that we can get him back and have him
available for those last two matches like we hoped."
Marsch has Kalvin Phillips back at full fitness ahead of
Monday's game at Crystal Palace, but Adam Forshaw is out for the season with a
fractured kneecap.
