Paul Robinson expresses concern that Leeds may not be able to depend on their key forward in the fight for promotion.
Former goalkeeper Paul Robinson has been evaluating the forward options for the club and shares concerns about Patrick Bamford’s reliability. Bamford joined Leeds United in the summer of 2018 and had a strong start, netting 43 goals in his first 110 appearances, including 17 in the 2020/21 Premier League season. However, he has struggled with injuries since then, playing only 80 times and scoring 17 goals since the start of the 2021/22 season.
This season, Bamford has made just three appearances without scoring as he works to regain full fitness. In his absence, manager Daniel Farke has turned to Mateo Joseph, who has provided three assists but only scored once in six Championship games.
Leeds is aiming for promotion back to the Premier League and currently sits sixth in the Championship. Robinson worries that their attacking options, particularly without Bamford, could hinder their promotion bid. He noted that the goalscoring responsibility largely falls on Joseph and mentioned that Joel Piroe, another forward, typically doesn’t play as a No. 9. Robinson emphasized the lack of depth in the attacking lineup and the challenge of relying on Bamford’s fitness for an entire season, pointing out the pressure on Joseph to perform.