Leeds United star Patrick Bamford's Chelsea admission…

Leeds United star Patrick Bamford's Chelsea admission throws Daniel James into limelight again

Leeds United striker Patrick Bamford has admitted he's likely to miss this weekend's clash against Chelsea - putting Wales star Daniel James back in the frontline thinking.

Bamford limped out of the Whites' game with Southampton last weekend in the latest setback to plague the England forward.

James was brought off the bench to replace Bamford, and the hitman's latest admission suggests he won't be in line to face the Blues, meaning Leeds have a headache in attack, especially with fellow forward Joe Gelhardt sweating on his own fitness.

Bamford said : “I’m all right to be fair. I’ve got a slight groin injury so I’ll probably miss the Chelsea game but I think that’s just part and parcel of coming back.

“I barely played or trained last year, I reckon the amount of times I trained from when I first got injured to the end of the season was probably less than 10, actually with the team.

“It was basically like a whole year out so it’s just kind of getting used to it again. Until Saturday when I felt it, I was feeling all right.”

Last weekend Leeds boss Jesse Marsch revealed his contingency attack thinking after Bamford was forced off on the south coast.

"Well, I think the idea was that maybe we could challenge their backline with Dan’s speed, but we weren't getting enough of that," he said following the 2-2 draw with the Saints.

"Dan had a big chance at the end of the first half that maybe would have rewarded that idea. But then I just felt like making the rotation of putting Rodri in a more dangerous spot putting Brenden (Aaronson) in the middle to help find pockets in their team and also to help press and win balls and then Dan in the right flank to be a little bit more aggressive to be running in the deep and being vertical.

"Rodri, obviously, I thought the first goal was a really good goal, a really good connection between him and Jack (Harrison) and Brenden, I thought was fantastic."

Marsch will now have to decide whether it will be James or Rodrigo who will lead the line against Thomas Tuchel's men. The Welshman's best position is floating in from the flank and perhaps popping in behind the main striker.

Bamford's absence could yet see the Wales star lead the line again, though, and Leeds fans have made the same point about the club's transfer activity amid James' use as a false nine.

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