Leeds United handed significant injury blow ahead of Norwich City play-off clash | OneFootball

Leeds United have been dealt a blow ahead of their Championship play-off semi-final with Norwich City this week.

That's after manager Daniel Farke revealed that striker Patrick Bamford will miss both legs of that tie due to injury.

Following their relegation from the Premier League at the end of last season, Leeds claimed a third-placed finish in the regular Championship season.

As a result, the Yorkshire club will have to go through the play-offs if they are to secure an immediate promotion back to the top-flight of English football.

Now though, it appears they will have top cope without one of their key players in the form of Bamford, for at least a significant portion of that.

Leeds United: Daniel Farke gives Patrick Bamford injury update ahead of Norwich City clash

Bamford has again had to battle with injury issues at times this season. That included him missing the final two games of the regular campaign.

That was due to a knee problem he picked up in a collision during his side's 4-3 win over Middlesbrough at The Riverside Stadium last month.

Now, the full severity of the injury appears to have become even clearer, and it does not appear to be good news for those of a Leeds United persuasion.

Providing an update on the fitness of Bamford ahead of this play-off clash with Norwich, Farke was quoted by the Yorkshire Evening Post as saying: “Patrick will definitely miss both legs of the semi-final. He's seen a different knee consultant and the new diagnosis says there is mini trauma in his patellar tendon.

"We were not aware of this, we were a bit surprised that he missed those two games, the initial diagnosis was just a bruise. But he definitely needs a couple of weeks in order to recover and will miss both legs.

"When someone is the calibre of Patrick Bamford and not available it's a chance for others to step up. We just concentrate on what we can influence. Some others will get our nod. The whole squad has my backing and my trust.”

So far this season, Bamford has made 36 appearances in all competitions for the Whites, scoring nine goals and providing two assists in that time.

The first leg of the semi-final takes place at Carrow Road on Sunday afternoon, with the second leg to be held at Elland Road on Thursday night.

If Leeds are successful in that tie, they will then face the winner of the other semi-final - between Southampton and West Brom - in the play-off final at Wembley on Sunday 26th May.

It remains to be seen if Bamford would be fit for that promotion decider, should Farke's side make it to that stage.

Patrick Bamford update is a blow for Leeds

There is no getting away from the fact that this does feel like a significant setback for Leeds United ahead of what are two defining games in the context of their season.

While it has something of a mixed season for the 30-year-old, he did seem to be finding form with some important goals in the weeks leading up to the play-offs.

That could have made him an important player for the Whites in these games, given the contributions he has made recently, could have been decisive if replicated in the play-offs.

It is also worth noting that Bamford has plenty of experience of the play-offs, which could have helped in guiding some of his teammates through this challenge on the pitch.

Beyond that, this now puts more pressure on Joel Piroe to lead the line in attack for Leeds in the semi-finals, when he has been struggling for form in recent months.

As a result, there may be some questions about whether the Whites will be able to pose as much attacking threat in these games as they would be able to if Bamford were fit and available.

This therefore, could turn out to be one of those fine margins on which something as crucial as promotion could be won or lost for Leeds United.