Leeds United reeling as Patrick Bamford setback casts doubt on striker's season
- Nick Walsh
- 28 March 2022
Leeds United have been dealt a huge blow to their survival hopes with confirmation that striker Patrick Bamford has been ruled out for six weeks and could miss the rest of the season.
The 28-year-old has aggravated a long-standing foot injury by rupturing a ligament but will not require surgery, the club have confirmed.
The West Yorkshire giants are seven points clear and two places above the relegation zone with just eight games left to preserve their top-flight status.
The news is a major setback for Bamford, who was forced off after just 23 minutes of Leeds' incredible 3-2 comeback win at Wolves and was seen in tears on the substitutes' bench.
Leeds' head of medicine and performance Rob Price said on the club website: "(Bamford) has played with a plantar fascia injury for the last 12 months.
"Despite treatment and a prolonged period of rehabilitation, the injury has progressed from a partial tear to a full rupture.
"Injuries to the plantar fascia are notoriously difficult to manage, but all concerned are confident that he will make a full recovery from this injury in good time.
"What (Bamford) needs is a period of rest and rehabilitation to allow his body to fully recover."
Bamford, a £7million signing from Middlesbrough in the summer of 2018, has scored 44 league goals in 102 starts for Leeds but this season he has suffered from a series of injury setbacks.
The former Chelsea trainee had only just returned to competitive action after inuring his hamstring celebrating his last-minute equaliser against Brentford at the start of December, before then picking up a foot injury in training.
The England international also injured his ankle in September and has only made seven Premier League starts this season, making a further two from the bench.
The club also revealed influential midfielder Kalvin Phillips, captain Liam Cooper and defender Diego Llorente have all trained this week and could feature when Leeds welcome Southampton to Elland Road in the Premier League on Saturday 2 April.
⌛️⌛️⌛️ pic.twitter.com/tYHFd7ceXJ
— Kalvin Phillips (@Kalvinphillips) March 3, 2022
Raphinha is also back in training after recovering from illness, while Mateusz Klich has rejoined the group after completing his concussion protocols.
