Patrick Bamford has defied plenty of critics following Leeds United’s promotion to the Premier League and ex-Leeds defender Danny Mills has taken to Instagram to admit he was wrong about the striker – after Bamford netted his 12th Premier League goal of the season on Monday night.
Bamford, 27, has now had a hand in 18 goals during his 22 Premier League appearances – scoring 12 and creating six more in assists. He only managed to score 16 goals last season in the Championship – an entire division below where is currently shining. Not only that, but Bamford managed those 16 goals in 45 appearances – laying on just four assists.
He is performing at a level that is way above the mark many expected. Even claims of an England call-up have been suggested – not least by our own Nigel Martyn, who thinks he should be given a chance in the games ahead of Euro 2021. He spoke after his goal against Palace on Monday, stating that had he been told there would be talk of an England call-up last summer – he would have thought you were “mad”.
But those claims are now very real after 12 goals this season in the Premier League. Indeed, he is ahead of the likes of Ollie Watkins, Callum Wilson, Danny Ings and Tammy Abraham when it comes to Premier League goals – behind only Harry Kane and Dom Calvert-Lewin, who are expected to be a part of Southgate’s squad come the summer.
It is a far cry from the striker that was getting pelters most weekends as Leeds fans begged their side to gain promotion to the Premier League. Ex-Leeds boss David O’Leary stated that Marcelo Bielsa’s men needed a new striker following promotion – something which Bamford responded to on social media. They did sign Rodrigo, though.
However, Bamford’s form has been so strong that even Rodrigo has been forced to play in a different role to the one he was signed to do – operating behind Bamford in attacking midfield. Bamford’s form has been so strong that it has seen fans change their mind, and pundits including Mills, who showed the decency on Instagram to applaud Bamford and admit he was wrong. He wrote “Proving people wrong, yes, including me. Fairplay.”
