Here are your Leeds United morning headlines on Saturday, April 2.
Bamford opens up on injuries
Leeds United striker Patrick Bamford has lifted the lid on his ongoing fitness battle after he picked up yet another injury against Wolverhampton Wanderers last month. The 28-year-old limped off within the opening 20 minutes of the win at Molineux and appeared to be upset as he left the pitch.
This latest setback is the third Bamford has had since sustaining an ankle issue in September, where he initially spent almost three months on the sidelines. The England international has only appeared for the Whites nine times this season, having a hand in four goals along the way.
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However, Bamford ruptured his plantar fascia in the 3-2 success at Wolves which will rule him out for six months and he may not feature between now and the end of the season. And he admitted that it was only a 'matter of time' before he was going to be out for a longer period of time.
"I think I was trying to get through the pain and almost forced myself back a little bit to try and help the team," Bamford told Sky Sports. "Without wanting to sound big-headed, I knew that I had a big role to play.
"I was eager to get back, but it was one of them where I knew eventually it was going to go and it was just a matter of time, really.
"When I had the partial tear and found out about that, I had the injections and it was building it back up until, really, I was comfortable training and then I eased into matches – I played a little bit in the Villa and Norwich games. But when I came off at half-time [of the Norwich game] I was in a bit of pain, so I knew it wasn’t quite right.
"Going into the Wolves game, if I was honest with myself, I should have said no [to playing]. But then they kept asking me if I wanted to play and I said ‘yes.’
"As soon as I started the warm-up [at Wolves], I knew. There were four actions where it started tearing and then the last one I knew something had happened."
Beren Cross' predicted line-up
While Patrick Bamford’s absence is a blow, the rest of the Leeds United squad seems to finally be bearing options for head coach Jesse Marsch. While the last time out saw a dramatic victory at Wolverhampton Wanderers, it began with a dire opening 45 minutes and ended with a home implosion which opened the floodgates for United’s comeback.
Those events do make it more tempting to opt for the talents which did not start at Molineux. While Marsch would be forgiven for being cautious with Kalvin Phillips, it’s harder for me to resist the England international.
While Adam Forshaw and Mateusz Klich have not put too many feet wrong of late, the burst of impetus and quality from Phillips is a welcome addition to the middle of the park. Diego Llorente has been nursing that back issue for several weeks and his less than convincing role in the first half a fortnight ago opens the door to Robin Koch in my side.
Liam Cooper is a temptation, but as Marsch said on Thursday, starting him and Phillips would be asking for substitution problems. Raphinha, of course, returns for obvious reasons with Jack Harrison making way.
Joe Gelhardt gets the start he persistently proves he deserves when he gets onto the field. Rodrigo is backed to pick the passes from a deeper role, joining Gelhardt at the head of the press when the formation shifts without the ball. Beren Cross has predicted his Leeds line-up against Southampton
Beren’s XI: Meslier; Ayling, Koch, Struijk, Dallas; Forshaw, Phillips; Raphinha, Rodrigo, James; Gelhardt.
Sherwood makes Raphinha claim
Tim Sherwood believes Leeds United will make another attempt at tying Raphinha down to a new long-term deal at Elland Road. Talks between Victor Orta and his agent Deco reportedly took place around the turn of the new year but nothing as of yet has arisen from it.
Instead, rumours over a summer exit have grown stronger in recent weeks, with Barcelona hot on the trail of the Brazilian and in talks with Deco. The likes of Liverpool, PSG and Chelsea have all too been linked in recent weeks, all of whom will be able to offer Raphinha Champions League football.
Raphinha has been a key player for Leeds this season – with his performances particularly during the first half of the campaign almost single-handedly keeping the Whites out of the bottom three. He has netted nine goals and provided three assists this term and despite links elsewhere, Sherwood thinks Leeds could make him a tempting offer if they remain in the Premier League and show some ambition in the summer window.
Speaking on the Kelly and Wrighty show, he said: "Raphinha especially in the Premier League at the moment he’s the man who stands out. He is dragging them forward. He’s got that guile, playing off the right and cutting in on his left foot. He looks like a Liverpool player to me, that type. He’s capable. That shape, got pace and strength and he sees the pass and gives it at the right time.
"He’s got a swagger about him as well and looks like he could play at the highest level. But Leeds is a massive football club and if they stay in the league and want to invest in the side, why don’t you stay for the future? I think they will try and tie him down to a long-term contract."
