Patrick Bamford’s importance to Leeds United underlined following Rodrigo injury

Sky Sports pundits Micah Richards and Jamie Carragher have stressed the importance of Patrick Bamford to Leeds United in the wake of Rodrigo’s two month sidelining.

Rodrigo, who has scored 10 goals in 18 Premier League games this term, is set to miss the next two months with an ankle injury he sustained in Leeds recent FA Cup win over Accrington Stanley.

That means Jesse Marsch will now have to rely upon Bamford and record signing Georginio Rutter to lead the line for the Whites until the Spanish forward returns.

READ MORE: Jesse Marsch opens up on Rodrigo injury as he gives positive update on Leeds United quartet

Last term saw Bamford endure a torrid run of injuries that kept him sidelined for a host of games.

While those injury issues have carried on into this season too, there are signs the England international looks to have shaken off those shackles in recent weeks, which would be a huge boost to the Whites fortunes this term.

And Sky Sports duo Richards and Carragher both believe Bamford is a vital piece in Leeds’ attacking line-up due to him being able to serve as a focal point for the Whites other dynamic attackers.

“I think Rodrigo is obviously a big miss but I watched Bamford in the FA Cup last weekend and he was brilliant,” said Richards.

“It [Leeds’ attack] something different with Rodrigo, [Wilfried] Gnonto and [Luis] Sinisterra, they’re all very good on the ball, very dynamic, they want to run into the spaces where as Bamford can hold up the ball, give them a spring board to play off.

“Him being back fit is brilliant. We’ve not seen the best of him for a couple of seasons now through injury but I think attacking wise, they look really good.”

Carragher added in agreement: “Micah’s right in terms of what Bamford provides you in terms of that hold up play.

“His finishing has always been questioned, he gets a lot of chances, doesn’t always finish it off but you think of the last manager before him [Marsch], Bielsa, he always picked him and that was a lot for what he did off the ball as well as holding the ball up.

“He’s a really good focal point.”

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