Leeds United: Daniel Farke reliance on key man is a serious Marcelo Bielsa throwback - View | OneFootball

Leeds United striker Patrick Bamford has scored or assisted 11 goals in his last 20 appearances since the turn of the year, with Daniel Farke putting his faith back in the out-of-favour striker.

It's Bamford's sixth season with the club, having signed for Leeds in the summer of 2018 from Middlesbrough, for an initial fee in the region of £7 million, which could rise to £10 million with add-ons. However, his time in West Yorkshire has been somewhat up and down, in part due to persistent injury issues that have stopped him from having an extended run in the team over the last few years,

That's been the case for most of this season as well, as he has had to settle with appearances from the bench. That was due to the partnership of Georginio Rutter and Joel Piroe developing in his absence. He failed to register a single meaningful goal contribution in that spell, including missing a penalty against Stoke City at a particularly low point in the season for him personally.

Prior to starting at the turn of the year against Birmingham City, the 30-year-old had made 16 appearances, all of which had come from the bench, with many of those games a struggle for the striker to get involved meaningfully in the action. However, after Leeds won just two of the last six league games during the festive period, Bamford was reinstated in the starting lineup and hasn't looked back since, largely putting those injury issues behind him.

Patrick Bamford's role at Leeds

Perhaps many thought he would be more of an impact player this season, but it appears Bamford is a player who is far better when starting games, as opposed to being introduced from the bench. He is also a capable player when he has a run of games and many of his goals for the club have tended to come in bunches during his time with Leeds.

Bamford's line-leading qualities will be of benefit in some games, with his ability to pull defenders around and stretch play apparent in some of his cameos this season, but especially in recent games, as it has also given Rutter more freedom in a deeper role. During those purple patches, Bamford is worth keeping in the team; the streaks in front of goal may have become less frequent in recent seasons, but it’s important for his confidence to continue in the side for as long as possible.

Of course, Bamford’s confidence seems to fluctuate more than most players. However, he also improves Leeds in a few other ways by being in the team as well. With Bamford as the centre-forward, Rutter can express himself, as the Frenchman has a broad profile in terms of his attacking qualities but is more of a threat in terms of his dribbling ability, flair, and vision when he plays in the line of three behind the striker, with more optimal spaces for him to operate in.

Bamford also occupies players and acts as a focal point more than any other striker at the club, and has the ability to pull players around with his intelligent movement, even if his shooting boots can, and have, frequently desert him. The 30-year-old can allow the team to get up the pitch with his intensity off the ball far more effective than the likes of Piroe, and his ability to occupy opponents far better.

That intensity was one of the main reasons that Marcelo Bielsa had so much belief in Bamford for so long, despite dry spells in front of goal. Not only that, but his box movement is also the best of any striker at the club, as he will run on the blindside of defenders unnoticed, or in behind or laterally in order to drag the opposition around and make himself a nuisance and a player they must constantly track.

Against teams who sit deep, he can be of real use, although in transitional or counter-attacking moments, his upside is perhaps less important. Leeds, more often than not towards the back end of the campaign, have come up against opposition making it difficult for spaces to play in, which is where Bamford's skillset comes to the fore.

Leeds miss Patrick Bamford's presence

The former Chelsea man featured in all 38 Premier League games in the 2020/21 season, scoring 17 times and contributing a further eight assists, playing his way into the England set-up as Leeds finished ninth.

He may not be the same player, but missing games against QPR and Blackburn Rovers towards the back end of the season has really shown the worst of Piroe's lack of intensity out of possession, and highlighted the need for a striker of Bamford's type, with only the inexperienced Mateo Joseph at the club capable of leading the attack in a similar way to Bamford.

Simply put, Leeds are a better side with Bamford in it, which has been true dating back to the Bielsa days of the club, with no other striker of his type ever sought out, and others such as Piroe and Rodrigo Moreno having to be shoehorned into a less than ideal situation as a number-nine, when neither are that type of forward.

He may never get back to that 2021 level again, his body may never be able to handle that sort of workload, and his intensity out of possession has somewhat suffered for it; but Bamford is showing some of those qualities that Leeds fans once learnt to love. If Leeds are to win the play-offs, Bamford is almost certain to play a key role, even if he isn't scoring himself.

He needs to come back in to be the focal point and spearhead of the attack, who pulls defenders around, allowing the likes of Rutter and Crysencio Summerville to thrive. Without him, Leeds may have to settle for Championship football once again in 2025.