Chris Wilder highlights ‘issues’ at Leeds United in Patrick Bamford admission – this tells you everything

Patrick Bamford has found a new club after leaving Leeds United. The striker left in the summer after he and the club agreed to a mutual termination of his deal.

Bamford had a private chat with Daniel Farke who told him that he could not count on him in the Premier League. The 32-year old had been riddled with injuries in the past few seasons which saw him play just a handful of games.

Sheffield United gave the striker a chance, signing him to a short-term contract last week in their pursuit of a new striker. Bamford will play under Chris Wilder, who he does have a history with.

Chris Wilder on Patrick Bamford treatment at Leeds United

Speaking at Bamford’s unveiling, Blades boss Wilder said that there has been no serious issue with Bamford’s fitness over the last two years. He also added that the striker was fit, but just was not trusted by Daniel Farke.

“He’s okay. There was a lazy assumption that he’s really struggled over the past two years. He hasn’t. He’s had a couple of injuries but his availability for Leeds last year was there to be seen, I think he was available for 37 games.” Wilder said speaking to SUTV.

“He didn’t get in the team because they were flying and winning games of football and the manager went with a different approach. Pat didn’t have a club at the start of the season because he had some issues with Leeds United that he needed to smooth out and eventually he did.

“He went to Coventry and had a really positive month there, great recommendation off Frank [Lampard] for myself and it was some fine details that opened the door for us.

“As soon as that became available, no.9 is a massive position for me, I think that’s where we’ve struggled – if a team presses us we haven’t had the option to miss it out and go in to the front, we’ve had a play one way and that’s shut down our options.

“Pat gives us options, his attitude has been great, he gets on with the boys. He’s fitted in. Played 45 minutes on Tuesday and trained. Do I think he can play three 90 minutes on the spin? No. We’ll have to manage his minutes, but he’ll definitely be on the pitch on Sunday and I wouldn’t be surprised if he starts one of the two games that are up and coming.”

Daniel Farke never gave Patrick Bamford a real chance

There is truth to what Wilder pointed out; Bamford has been injury prone, but during his time when he was fit, Farke barely trusted him to play. The Leeds boss preferred Joel Piroe and, at a point, Mateo Joseph, to take up the striking role.

If Wilder is right and Bamford is good to go this season, then it was most likely Farke who pushed the striker to leave the club in the summer. And with the Whites struggling with the new additions up-front, some fans would be questioning why Bamford was not allowed to play this season.