This article is part of Football FanCast’s Opinion series, which provides analysis, insight and opinion on any issue within the beautiful game, from Paul Pogba’s haircuts to League Two relegation battles…
It’s fair to say that one of the biggest talking points around the Leeds United fanbase at the moment is the Eddie Nketiah vs Patrick Bamford debate.
Both men have their fans, and despite the fact that Bamford hasn’t scored for eight games, at this point there are supporters who still defend him due to other aspects of his game.
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Of course, the arguments erupted once again after the former Middlesbrough man’s wasteful performance against Preston – a game that was capped off by a late equaliser by his understudy.
Leeds fans have been calling for Marcelo Bielsa to operate with a two-striker formation for a while now, and with the 20-year-old saving the Whites’ skin on Tuesday evening you’d think he’d get a starting opportunity.
However, if Nketiah is handed a start it likely won’t be alongside Bamford as Bielsa made it clear that he’s not had time to experiment with the pair playing together in training.
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“We have never proved this kind of combination in our training,” said the Argentine.
“In the international break, Nketiah is not with us, because we play twice a week and when we prepare in the week there are few spaces to try these kinds of things.”
It seems as if the youngster’s England U21 duties are getting in the way of Bielsa attempting this partnership.
Bamford will remain in training with Leeds during these breaks, but he won’t be able to trial playing alongside Nketiah as he’ll be away with the Young Lions.
Considering he could be on the cusp of being dropped unless they operate as a pair, it doesn’t bode well for the former Middlesbrough man.
While the Arsenal loanee is away with his country he has a chance to impress by scoring goals, which he’s been doing plenty of, something Bamford obviously can’t do when matches aren’t being played at club level.
But because Nketiah isn’t there when they do have increased focus on training, it only leaves Bamford in the lurch even more.
This is yet another obstacle he’ll have to overcome going forward.