Gary Lineker now shares what he told Patrick Bamford in private phone call back in 2023

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Leeds United striker Patrick Bamford revealed earlier this month he had a phone call with Gary Lineker.

Bamford was basking in the glory of scoring one of the all time FA Cup goals away at Peterborough United, which saw him win praise from across the footballing world.

Lineker and Alan Shearer were among the former players share their thoughts on Bamford’s goal, which prompted the Leeds attacker to share on his podcast how he sought some advice from the former back in 2023.

2023 was a bad year for Bamford. Some of his missed chances were a major contributing factor to Leeds’ relegation, and he then did not start a single Championship match until the turn of the New Year.

Clearly Bamford recognised his own struggles and wanted to get out of the rut. Speaking on the latest episode of the ‘Rest is Football Podcast’, Lineker has shared how Bamford approached him first to speak about how he could improve his game.

Bamford wanted striker advice from Lineker

He said: “A few months ago I got a direct message from Patrick saying that he heard you talking about making runs as strikers and how you can improve your game and he said I wondered if you could give me 10 or 20 minutes on the phone and give me some advice so I said of course.

“We swapped numbers and he called me. We had 20 minutes talking about movement and gambling on attacking space. He seemed like a really good guy, really smart, wanting to learn.

“I said to him you are the first person who has ever asked me for advice at any time. I suppose people might be a bit too shy, but if social media had been around when I played which gives you the opportunity to contact players who have reached the top I think I would have done so.”

There aren’t many better former English strikers Bamford could’ve gone to for advice, with Lineker the Three Lions’ fourth all-time highest goalscorer.

In the eyes of many supporters, Bamford looked all but done at Leeds but it is good to hear at his age, and with his experience, that he is still determined to keep learning and improving.

Ultimately, that is more than paying off at the moment, as he is now back in Leeds’ starting XI, has four goals in five matches, and has movement like no one else in the squad.