Huge blow: Leeds suffer major setback before Southampton, Marsch will be devastated - opinion

Leeds United manager Jesse Marsch has delivered an update on Patrick Bamford’s injury status ahead of the Premier League game against Southampton on Saturday.

The 48-year-old said: “We made the announcement on Patrick Bamford and personally I was really disappointed this happened to Patrick but this is the way it ended up. It felt like we were trying to create progression for him but this injury is a tricky one. We’re hopeful that the six week prognosis we gave is accurate.”

While the victories over Norwich and Wolves have opened up a bit of breathing space for Leeds heading into today’s fixture against the Saints at Elland Road, their Premier League safety is by no means assured just yet.

The Whites find themselves seven points clear of 18th-placed Watford but having played a game more, and they also know that they have a pivotal clash against Roy Hodgson’s side at Vicarage Road looming on the horizon just next week.

Being without their main, and indeed only, frontline striker, who excelled upon Leeds’ top-flight return last season, is a hammer blow to their chances of picking up some more much-needed positive results, even despite their heroic comeback without him at Molineux.

Indeed, when news initially emerged of just how long Bamford would be sidelined, former West Ham man Frank McAvennie delivered his verdict, saying: “I’m gutted for the boy (Bamford), I have been all season, he’s not been there. Leeds have just had an awful time with injuries.

“Phillips has barely been there as well and he’s been a big miss. It’s ruined their season. It’s meant they can’t play the football they want to. I just hope they are all back as soon as possible.”

To have Bamford ruled out so soon after making his comeback is a bitter blow