Sam Allardyce has told Friday’s press conference – as per the Leeds United YouTube channel – that Rodrigo will be fit to play against Tottenham Hotspur, while also giving updates on striker Patrick Bamford after a hamstring issue.
Bamford, 29, started well last weekend in the 3-1 loss to West Ham. It came on the back of deleting his Twitter, then missing a penalty against Newcastle United in the 2-2 draw – and both he and his family receiving death threats.
Indeed, he almost set up a Rodrigo goal and was causing the West Ham centre-backs headaches. But as soon as he started to struggle with a hamstring injury, West Ham equalised and he was forced off. Rodrigo replaced him up top.
The Spaniard had started on the right. He was limping from the hour mark, but he seemed as though he ran it off to play through the pain barrier and complete 90 minutes. Liam Cooper returned to the bench at West Ham on Sunday.
Allardyce gave an update on Bamford and Rodrigo ahead of Sunday’s clash, which Leeds have got to win in order to stand a chance of survival on the final day of the season. He says Bamford could play and Rodrigo trained on Friday.
“Rodrigo trained today. Patrick, we are going to give him as long as we can, certainly until tomorrow, until we make our final selection for Sunday. In the striking area, we are not overwhelmed. Tomorrow we will pick the 11 players.
“I will gamble on anyone’s fitness if they think they’re fit enough to contribute. It is the last game, they have plenty of time to recover after the match,” Allardyce said, when talking to reporters on Friday in his pre-match conference.
Sam Allardyce: Rodrigo fit to play, gives updates on Patrick Bamford
It is a massive boost that Rodrigo was in training on Friday. Absolutely, monumental. He looked like he was really struggling at the end of the loss to West Ham. What is perhaps surprising, is that Bamford could actually feature.
Of course, there might be more of a push to play these players because it is the final game of the season. If they are carrying knocks, it is not as if they have to be rested with more games to play. They have time to recover afterwards.
