A few Leeds United fans may have thought that splashing out £7million to secure the capture of Middlesbrough striker Patrick Bamford would see him take up an immediate first-team spot, but it certainly hasn’t worked out that way.
The 24-year-old was a late substitute in the clash against Derby County as he made his bow, but his full debut came in the EFL Cup clash against Bolton Wanderers in midweek and he marked that with his first club goal but the expectation is he’ll return to the bench for the upcoming Rotherham United clash.
The Yorkshire Evening Post have the player talking about his start to life at Elland Road and he continues to say all the right things.
Praising the performances of Kemar Roofe so far this season, Bamford explained that he was happy to keep working hard to earn his chance in the team and that he didn’t expect to be a guaranteed starter as he knows he has to earn it.
Reacting to those comments on social media, he simply seems to have ingratiated himself even further with the faithful.
@LucasG1998 @pedrogibo part of the project not just wanting it to be all about him. Rate this!
— James Gibson (@JamesGibbo11) August 15, 2018
Thats the meaning of 'Side before Self' Welĺ done Patrick,you'll get your chance to flourish at this great club.????????????
— Kevin Wilson (@WilsonKevvo4444) August 15, 2018
I'm just loving everything about Leeds at the moment
— David Clifford (@eastcowick) August 15, 2018
Such an articulate guy
— SA (@Aravind_SA) August 15, 2018
I like this, no stropping and throwing the toys out of the stroller
Tbf, Bamford is a few weeks behind everyone else with the time he arrived
— ???????????????? ???????????? (@LUFCInc) August 15, 2018
It takes time to adapt from pulisball to actual football. He was always going to get a slowish start. Glad he's grabbed a goal to keep his head up, another few weeks of training should sort out the rustiness
— Comfortably Numb (@Snowstorm1997) August 15, 2018
They’ll both get plenty of game time with the tempo they’re expected to maintain in this league over, what, 50 games + ? We can no longer consider KR a stand in striker, he did well there last season too, when asked, but he’s really firing now.
— Nawvernmonkee (@i_curious) August 15, 2018
Having gotten off the mark this week, that’ll do his confidence the world of good as he continues settling into life at the club and his time will undoubtedly come if he keeps impressing on training and when chances come his way.
Given how Bielsa wants us to play, it’s a very valid point about rotation coming into play to help keep players fresh.