"Can he still do that?" - Leeds United: Pundit issues brutally honest Patrick Bamford claim | OneFootball

Bamford has struggled for consistency in recent seasons with Leeds

Former West Ham United striker Frank McAvennie has questioned whether Patrick Bamford is able to hit a high number of goals in order to contribute to Leeds United's promotion aims.

Given their stature in comparison to numerous divisional rivals, the spotlight and pressure remains on Leeds to deliver a promotion out of the Championship at the second attempt this season, having lost the Play-Off Final to Southampton four months ago.

To their credit, Daniel Farke's side have emerged from the first four league encounters undefeated, with their latest victory coming against Hull City at Elland Road, with Mateo Joseph and Joel Piroe converting two second half goals to take their record so far this season to two wins and as many draws.

However, one man who has been absent from Leeds' maiden home and away successes this campaign, with the latter of those coming against Sheffield Wednesday on August 23rd, was Bamford, whose performances have often blown hot and cold in a Whites shirt for a lengthy period.

Bamford has often divided the opinion of Leeds supporters and pundits alike, and at the start of this new season, such circumstances haven't changed.

Frank McAvennie questions Patrick Bamford's goalscoring potential for Leeds United

Bamford has made just three appearances so far this season, with his solitary start coming in the 3-0 defeat inflicted by Middlesbrough in the EFL Cup First Round, before missing the encounters against the Owls and the Tigers with a hamstring problem.

However, once he is available for selection again, the aforementioned McAvennie has questioned whether the former Chelsea man can score the goals Leeds require in order to mount a successful promotion bid this season.

“I would have liked them to bring in a top striker," The 64-year-old stated to Football Insider.

“You can’t beat having someone that’s going to get you 20 goals a season, that’s what Bamford did a couple of years ago."

“He’s been their man for ages, can he still do that? From what I’ve seen of Patrick, I don’t think so, unless he steps up," the former Celtic man added.

McAvennie concluded: “He’s not shown me that he can score 20 goals this year, if he can do it or they bring someone in who can they’ll be in the Premier League next year.”

Patrick Bamford must provide a healthy goalscoring return for Leeds United

Despite failing to hit double figures for United since their first season back in the Premier League under Marcelo Bielsa - 17 goals in 38 top-flight appearances - Bamford does still provide Farke with an extremely experienced option to call upon when required, and he proved exactly why last season, but only in bursts.

With the likes of Crysencio Summerville and Georginio Rutter, who were directly involved in 51 of Leeds' 81 goals in the regular season now gone, there is an even greater onus on the likes of Joseph, Piroe, Bamford and Wilfried Gnonto among others to step up and hit impressive goal tallies, showcasing that the LS11 club still have one of the most threatening attacks in the second tier.

As McAvennie referenced, that was Bamford not too long ago, as the now-31-year-old hit 16 goals in the 2018/19 season - his most prolific at this level - which fired the club to the Championship title under Bielsa, featuring in 47 appearances across all competitions that particular season.

Of course, injury problems have hampered the forward, and have continued to do so this season, although Farke has provided an update on Bamford after missing recent encounters.

“We don’t have to speak about the experience and the quality that Patrick has. For him, it’s the most important topic to be fit, to be training regularly, to come into his rhythm and then he’s an excellent Championship striker; he has even proven this on Premier League level," the German said via the Yorkshire Evening Post, who also state that Bamford could be available for the post-international break visit of Burnley.

Such comments from his boss showcase the trust that those at the club still have in Bamford to hit a respectful tally of goals, having done so eight times in 33 appearances last term, with all of them coming after the striker broke an eight-month duck in a 3-0 success over Birmingham City.

Still being under contract until 2026, this is a pivotal season for the centre-forward, who must do all in his power to return to prolific goalscoring form.