Phil Hay has told the Square Ball podcast that he believes Rodrigo has more chance of being fit for Sunday’s clash against Tottenham than Patrick Bamford does – after both picked up knocks during the 3-1 defeat to West Ham.
Having endured a difficult couple of weeks that included deleting his Twitter account, missing a penalty against Newcastle and he and his family receiving death threats – Bamford was handed a start up top, Rodrigo on the right.
Bamford started really well, setting up a glorious chance for Rodrigo early on. Rodrigo then smashed in his 15th goal of the season from a Weston McKennie throw. Bamford’s hold-up play was good, and Leeds were in a good place.
But a West Ham equaliser was compounded with Bamford being forced to go off. The striker picked up a muscle issue. Rodrigo, meanwhile, looked as if he was struggling around the hour mark but stayed on for the whole game.
Hay gave a verdict on their fitness on the Square Ball: “Bamford will surely not be ready for Spurs at the weekend. I think there’s a possible chance that Rodrigo will be with his foot injury – but they will be nursing him through that.”
Hay: Rodrigo has more chance of being fit than Bamford for Tottenham
Losing Bamford’s ability to hold the ball up was felt on Sunday, as West Ham began to dominate with the striker struggling with injury and subsequently, coming off. The chances of him being fit for Spurs seem absolutely zero.
Rodrigo seemed to pick up what was a knock and played through it. He needed 10 minutes to run it off but by the end, he was moving as freely as one could imagine with a bit of a knock. So, it makes sense Rodrigo has a chance.
But ideally, Sam Allardyce and Leeds need them both to be available for selection if Leeds are to stand any chance of beating Spurs – in a relegation scrap that looks to have got away from the Whites, even after bringing in Big Sam.
