Leeds: Jesse Marsch 'has to play' rarely-seen £18m star vs Brentford

Leeds should start Patrick Bamford for their trip to Brentford if it doesn’t put his chances of being fit for next season at risk, according to transfer insider Dean Jones.

The £18m-rated striker hasn’t played since suffering a foot injury at Wolves two months ago, although he’s in contention for the game in west London.

It’s been an incredibly frustrating few months for Leeds’ talisman, whose season has been overshadowed by ankle, hamstring, and foot injuries.

However, after narrowly missing out on the squad for the draw with Brighton on Saturday, Bamford could make just his tenth top-flight appearance at the Brentford Community Stadium.

Leeds Live has rated Bamford’s chances of being available for the game as ‘touch and go‘, although having not featured since the middle of March, his lack of match sharpness could see him miss out.

But with Leeds possibly needing to win to stay in the Premier League, Jones reckons that now is the time for Jesse Marsch to take a gamble on Bamford’s fitness.

He told GIVEMESPORT: “If they can get the feeling that he can get through 60 minutes, if they feel it’s not genuinely hurting his chances of being fit again next season, then Bamford has to play.”

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“They miss him so much; they miss his threat and miss the understanding that he has with the players around him.”

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While Leeds desperately need Bamford available against Brentford, it seems unlikely that Marsch will bring him straight back into the starting XI after not kicking a ball for almost two months.

The final day is the time to take risks, but if Bamford is lacking match