Patrick Bamford will miss the vast majority of Leeds United's Premier League run-in after a club statement revealed he would be sidelined for six weeks. The striker was substituted during the first-half of Leeds' 3-2 win over Wolverhampton Wanderers on the eve of the international break, visibly distraught, suffering from an injury to the sole of his foot.
Leeds United have since released a statement detailing the issue Bamford has been forced to deal with. Head of Medicine and Performance Rob Price said: "Patrick has put his body on the line for Leeds United for a number of seasons, he has played with a plantar fascia injury for the last 12 months and despite treatment and a prolonged period of rehabilitation, the injury has progressed from a partial tear to a full rupture."
The length of time which Bamford has battled the foot injury had not previously been public knowledge but it does naturally lead to questions regarding the club's transfer policy. Assuming the likes of Marcelo Bielsa, Director of Football Victor Orta and board members including Chairman Andrea Radrizzani were aware of Bamford's issue, the decision not to prioritise reinforcements in attack over the past two transfer windows is difficult to understand.
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Leeds spent a reported £25 million on wide-forward Daniel James on the eve of the transfer deadline last summer having secured the permanent additions of Junior Firpo and Jack Harrison within the first week of July. Despite the likes of Rodrigo Moreno, Tyler Roberts and the aforementioned James deputising at the spear-tip of Leeds' attack this season, the Whites began the campaign with Bamford as the club's only recognised senior striker.
Teenager Joe Gelhardt has emerged as a contender for that role over the course of the season, but Leeds' struggles in attack partly due to Bamford's lengthy absences over the past 12 months, could have been mitigated by an understudy. Leeds United CEO Angus Kinnear received some flak during the January transfer window for his stance on incoming business, of which Leeds did none.
"Many January options requiring eight-figure investment wouldn't be a material improvement on the performances of emerging players such as Bate, Hjelde and Gelhardt," the Chief Executive said. At this point, Bamford had played 22 minutes of Premier League football since mid-September due to a succession of injuries. Leeds would reportedly lodge two separate bids for attacking midfielder Brenden Aaronson that same month, in the region of £15-£20 million, suggesting funds were available if Bamford's availability had prompted a rethink.
It is now apparent that throughout the ankle, hamstring and quadricep injuries suffered by Bamford this season, the 28-year-old had also been toiling with the effects of plantar fasciitis, which has now sidelined him for 'a minimum of six weeks'. Spending the majority of 2021/22 without a recognised centre-forward in the starting line-up has undoubtedly contributed to Leeds United's league position, but it remains to be seen whether the lessons will be heeded in the summer transfer window, when theoretically Bamford will have returned to full fitness.
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