Patrick Bamford has not played for Leeds United since New Year’s Day when he picked up a hamstring injury but the striker has now been in senior training for the last couple of weeks.
While Leeds are in the midst of the red-hot heat of battling for automatic promotion, Daniel Farke has confirmed that Leeds have no injury concerns. That includes Bamford, as well as Max Wober and his knee.
Mateo Joseph has struggled all season, scoring just three goals for Leeds while Joel Piroe has now gone without a goal in the last five games – playing 90 minutes in each of the last five Championship matches.
Bamford was not in the squad for the draw against Swansea and of course, the one-time England man is no stranger to injuries so will be kept under wraps. But Leeds need everything they have to win at Luton.
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The Leeds side could look remarkably different from the team that drew with Swansea. Karl Darlow will replace Illan Meslier as confirmed by Farke, while Junior Firpo and Ao Tanaka are expected to come in.
Farke kept his cards close to his chest when discussing Willy Gnonto, but the Italian is “ready to go” and he could come in for Brenden Aaronson or either of the two Leeds wingers currently underperforming.
Bamford could also be named on the bench. Smyth told the Inside Elland Road podcast that Bamford is doing well in training: “I think they [Bamford and Max Wober, after returning to training] are available.
“I certainly think Bamford is available from what I hear he has been in training and looking decent in training over the last couple of weeks,” Smyth continued on the Inside Elland Road podcast on Friday.
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Bamford last few years have been abysmal. A shadow of his former self, but hardly because of him. There seemed to be light at the end of the tunnel during the second half of last season but it’s not materialised.
This season, he’s not scored a single goal and failed to start in the Championship for Leeds. But there is still time for Bamford, who is rarely out of the headlines, to get make himself a hero for Leeds this term.
Seven games left, in which Bamford could be involved in. With Joseph struggling and the goals drying up for Piroe, perhaps Bamford could be given a chance off the bench in the coming days and weeks.
