Patrick Bamford’s electric start to life back in the Premier League currently has him on seven goals from eight games, and potentially in-line for international recognition.
The 2019/20 Championship campaign was a tough one for Bamford at Elland Road, where his conversion rate in front of goal left a lot to be admired, seeing him finish on 16 goals in 45 apearances.
Not the worst tally to end up on in a title-winning, rock-solid side, but when juxtaposed with an xG rating of 24.34, it’s clear that he needed to be more clinical as Marcelo Bielsa leaned on him at the start of the Premier League season.
The Whites’ summer business seemed to indicate that Bamford might be pushed out of the side long-term, as Rodrigo arrived from Valencia for a club-record fee, but we’ve seen the opposite so far.
Playing in tandem in the final third, Rodrigo has been one of the key suppliers during Bamford’s hot streak, creating bundles of chances for the frontman, including being at the forefront of play as the number nine struck a hattrick away at Aston Villa.
What we’ve always known about Bamford is that his work rate in and out of possession is a reason why, even in the top flight, he’s one of the first names on the team sheet.
Aggressive pressing from first minute to last, finding pockets of space between defenders, and vision to supply teammates are all reasons why he’s more than just goals, but we’re now seeing the final piece of the jigsaw that makes him the ideal striker for us going forward.
Despite Leeds’ second successive 4-1 league defeat away at Crystal Palace, Bamford came away from Selhurst Park proving he’s much closer to the finished article than he was during his ill-fated loan spell in South London back in 2015.
Netting a very well-taken goal to take him to seven for the season, he cannoned home from 12 yards after controlling Mateusz Klich’s guided header in the box. However, he can count himself unfortunate that VAR cancelled out what seemed to be a perfectly good goal.
Breaking the Palace backline to dink past an onrushing Guaita, Bamford thought he had found an equaliser in the 17th minute, before VAR intervened and deemed his shirtsleeve to be in an offside position.
It’s a tough one to take for a striker and team needing all the goals they can get at the moment, with the threat of relegation always lingering for all newly-promoted teams.
Putting the team performance aside, it’s clear that Bamford is has shed the ghosts of his former Premier League spells to prove he deserves a place at the table, with his goal tally putting him currently just one behind the four joint-top scorers in the league.
Recognition for Bamford’s efforts so far in 2020/21 aren’t just in house either, with reports of a potential England call-up building after Marcus Rashford’s shoulder injury on Saturday for Man United. The Times are claiming that Bamford is set for consideration by Gareth Southgate for international duty as England prepare for fixtures against the Republic of Ireland, Belgium and Iceland this weekend.
The red-hot form of Harry Kane, Dominic Calvert-Lewin, and Ollie Watkins makes for a tough decision for Southgate with Bamford but I can’t see why he wouldn’t be in with a really strong shout given the argument he’s put forward this season.
With setbacks to Rodrigo (isolation), Phillips (shoulder), Raphinha (ankle), we could do with not losing Bamford any time soon given he’s our most in-form player.
So, from a Leeds perspective, a call-up to the Three Lions can probably wait until we’re under less pressure to get points back on the board, with how vital he is and is going to be this term.