No senior strikers were added to Leeds United's squad during the summer transfer window, leaving Jesse Marsch to find frontline solutions with what he has in-house. A fully-fit Patrick Bamford is a Premier League menace and England international, but a season limited to seven starts by injury has everyone holding their breath on his fitness in 2022/23.
Indeed, Bamford has already missed out on four United line-ups this term, while Rodrigo, his most experienced stand-in, started like a house on fire before ruling himself out with an injury. Joe Gelhardt is next in line and the prospect of him starting alongside Bamford was discussed by Marsch last week.
The head coach recounted a tale from last season which underlined a blossoming relationship which pitches Bamford as mentor and Gelhardt as the student. As a valuable cog in the leadership council, it’s the kind of intuition Marsch wants to see from his number nine.
