Jesse Marsch will check on the fitness of Patrick Bamford on Saturday ahead of this weekend’s clash with Chelsea at Elland Road. The Leeds United striker could be seen limping out of last Saturday’s draw with Southampton with a tight adductor and Marsch admits he won’t risk him in the game if he’s not right.
As such, a decision will be made tomorrow from the head coach after the club’s final training session in preparation for the Premier League clash. However, Joe Gelhardt is fit to be involved after missing the tip down to St Mary’s with a dead leg.
Marsch has also revealed that club captain Liam Cooper could be fit enough to be involved against Thomas Tuchel’s side, but again, he will be assessed fully on Saturday.
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“Coops has been on the pitch, I think him and then Pat as well but you know they're a little bit day-to-day so we'll have to see how that factors in for Chelsea and then Joffy is back in training and ready to go, Stuart’s still coming along with his injury.”
Asked about Bamford’s injury, in particular, Marsch added: “I would say it's probably a decision that we'll be ready to make tomorrow. We know we can’t risk him and that we don't want him to pick up further injury. But he's feeling good, he's looking good. So let's see.
“[Taking him off] was a precaution and then it's just being precautionary with him in general. We know after having almost missed an entire season that we just have to be really intelligent with how we manage everything. So we'll be prepared if he's ready to go and if he's done and the end of that game.”
This came after Bamford told the official Leeds United podcast he would 'probably miss the Chelsea game.'
Marsch also gave an update on Junior Firpo and Luke Ayling, revealing he hopes to see them return to action over the next two weeks.
“Luke and Junior are really looking strong and getting better every day but not ready for Chelsea,” he added. “We'll see, I'd say maybe a week or two away, they’re looking better and better.”
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