Patrick Bamford is revelling in the praise that comes with scoring one of the best-ever FA Cup goals to date, and the Leeds United star has shared details of a conversation he had with Gary Lineker.
Bamford, 30, is back among the goals after scoring two in his last two. The stats are not good reading overall this season. He has two goals and an assist in 18 – but he did not start the first 16 of those 18.
Starting against Birmingham, he scored the opener in a 3-0 win – causing Wayne Rooney to be sacked. Then, the second against Peterborough. His goal regarded one of the best in the history of the FA Cup.
Tony Bellew said it is better than Diego Maradona’s ‘goal of the century’, while Archie Gray believes he will be in with a shout of winning the Puskas award. £10m Bamford’s confidence once again is sky high.
Speaking on his podcast My Mate’s A Footballer with comedian Joe Wilkinson, Bamford shared how he messaged legendary England striker Lineker and subsequently had a phone call with him about goals.
“Last season I rang him [Lineker]. I got his number after messaging him on Twitter and just was like, can I give you call to talk about striking stuff? I rang him up and he was a little bit surprised to be fair.
“But he was a lovely guy. He said I was the first ever guy who had ever rang him to ask about striking advice and to pick me brain. I was like, you are kidding me? I was surprised that nobody had done it.”
Patrick Bamford shares details of chat he had with Gary Lineker
In terms of gaining advice from a striker, there aren’t many better to turn to than the iconic Match of the Day presenter. A man that scored 48 goals in 80 England caps, and 331 goals for both club and country.
While it happened last season, with Bamford perhaps at his lowest during another frustrating campaign with injury – perhaps the words have stuck with him. Hopefully, this is start of a big run for Bamford.
The one-time England capped striker is renowned for being a bit streaky, going on runs of form and then dipping in and out. Injury has played a big part. But surely, he has got to start at Cardiff on Saturday.
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