Leeds United star Patrick Bamford gives big injury update ahead of play-off final vs Southampton

Striker Patrick Bamford has not featured for Leeds United since picking up a knee injury against Middlesbrough last month

Patrick Bamford admits he is “touch and go” to be fit for Leeds United’s Championship play-off final with Southampton next week. The experienced forward has not played for the Whites since suffering a knee injury in the 4-3 win at Middlesbrough on April 22.

Bamford was one of three senior players absent from their play-off semi-final second leg hammering of Norwich City, with Sam Byram and Pascal Struijk also sidelined due to injury. United manager Daniel Farke will be hoping Bamford and Byram will be available for selection when they take on Southampton at Wembley on May 26. Influential centre-back Struijk has already been ruled out until next season.

Speaking on the latest episode of the ‘My Mate’s A Footballer Podcast‘, Bamford said: “The simple answer is no [on whether he knows where his injury is at]. It is touch and go, these 10 days, realistically if I want to be involved in the final, I will have to train with the team at some point next week.

“Against Middlesbrough I don’t remember doing it. There was one shot where I was limping after which is where they think it happened. Cry [Crysencio Summerville] had a shot and I slid in to try and tap it in at the back post, and I don’t know what happened and somehow I managed to bang my knee, or twist it or something.

“Two minutes later when I start to run around on the pitch it got more and more sore. The manager took me off five minutes later so I thought good, I will be alright, I’ve just banged it. Then the next day, I was in agony and I was like, what’s going on?

“I got on the bench and iced it and thought it would settle down the next day, but it got worse. It’s hard to explain what it is, but it’s something to do with the patella tendon and where the bone attaches. It’s touch and go for the final.

“Realistically because it’s been three weeks since I last played, I need to train, with the final on Sunday, by Wednesday to get a few days training because otherwise it’s pointless me being there as I won’t be sharp anyway.”