Patrick Bamford’s injury will test Leeds United’s depth

Well, it turns out that Patrick Bamford’s injury he suffered against Bristol City while playing for the Leeds United U23s was worse than first believed.

Bamford will miss at least four months with an injury to the posterior cruciate ligament in his knee.

The club’s head of medicine, Rob Price, told the official website that:

Patrick is a very fit footballer and whilst this is a setback for all concerned, we have spoken to some of the best consultants in the country to make the correct diagnosis quickly.

My team will work with Patrick to get him back involved with the first team as fast as possible.

Bamford had not started a match in the league, despite moving to Leeds from Middlesbrough in a £7 million deal, with Marcelo Bielsa sticking with the in-form Kemar Roofe. Roofe even won the EFL Championship Player of the Month Award for August because of his goal-scoring record at the club. However, with Bamford out, Leeds will have to rely on Roofe even more, and might have to call upon others to fill in from time to time.

Tyler Roberts made his senior Wales debut in this international break, and while he’s been used primarily on the wing so far with the first team, he’s been used as a centre forward for much of his career. According to transfermarkt, he’s played at CF for 52 of the 66 appearances they have information listed. And much like Roofe, perhaps a move to a more central position would be best for Roberts. Roofe played on the wing almost exclusively for Garry Monk when he was manager at Leeds, but it took Thomas Christiansen moving him back to striker to get the best out of him. A move to a more central position, where Roberts appears more comfortable, might get the best out of him as well.

Besides Roberts, Leeds will have to call upon players from the U23s, with Sam Dalby and Ryan Edmondson the most likely candidates from the Academy. Edmondson, in particular, looks to be the best candidate, as he’s already played for the first team and can step into a similar role as Bamford.

While the injury is disappointing, it’s important to remember that the Championship and promotion spots are not decided in September, they are decided in April. Losing Bamford to injury is a blow, but it’s not the end of the world.