'I'm sorry...': Leeds employee drops gutting Bamford claim after what he's heard from Thorp Arch

Leeds United employee Noel Whelan has dropped a worrying injury claim on Patrick Bamford’s involvement for the final two games of the season, Football Insider report.

Bamford hasn’t been seen for Leeds since March when he ruptured his foot against Wolves. Jesse Marsch was ‘optimistic’ last month that the 28-year-old would return for the final two games of the season, however, he kept his cards close to his chest regarding the striker on Friday.

Talking at his pre-Brighton press conference, Marsch told reporters at Thorp Arch that Bamford is still being ‘assessed’ and wouldn’t say if he is in contention to feature this afternoon.

Talking to FI after hearing that update on Bamford, Whelan admitted he’d be ‘surprised’ if the Leeds man featured in the final two games of the season, and added that the ‘protection of players and their health is paramount’.

“I would be very surprised if I saw him again this season, I really would.

“As much as we need him back, he’s not played a game yet. He’s not played any kind of real 90 minutes of a game, fitness-wise. We need him for next year, whether it’s Premier League or Championship football.

“We need a healthy Patrick Bamford. Unless he’s 100 per cent sure that he can do it and he can offer something and there’s no recurrence or feeling of any injury he’s gone through, I wouldn’t be risking him.

“I’m sorry. I want to stay in the Premier League, I want us to score goals and winning football matches.

“But protection of players and their health is paramount. I just believe that he won’t be match sharp. Rodrigo and Gelhardt, they’ve got to take the responsibility on their shoulders and going show their worth.”

Leeds can name an 18-man squad this afternoon and are short on attacking