Chris
Daniel Farke should find that his options for today’s trip to Southampton are boosted by two returning Leeds United players
Daniel Farke is set to include Patrick Bamford in his travelling squad to face Southampton in today’s early Championship kick-off. The Leeds United number nine was injured shortly before the start of the new season with a hamstring issue and after returning to training earlier this month, is now nearing a first-team comeback.
Leeds head to St Mary’s looking to continue their impressive recent run of form which has seen them move into the play-off positions and go six games unbeaten, with no goals being conceded in their last four matches. Bamford provides another attacking option for Farke, who talked up the one-time England striker in his pre-match press conference.
“Sometimes, an injured player plays with more enthusiasm because he’s highly motivated to be back on the pitch,” he said. “I can see this in training, Patrick is in a good mood and he’s a really good player at this level.
Last time he played at Championship level he got 20 goals and got this club promoted. It’s definitely good to have a player of his experience, quality and ability back in the mix.”
Bamford should be joined in the squad by Joe Rodon, who is available again after he completed his one-match suspension against Watford last weekend. That leaves just four players out injured, with Junior Firpo, Djed Spence and Wilfried Gnonto expected back after the international break, while a specific timeframe is yet to be laid out for Stuart Dallas, despite his return to training following an absence of almost 18 months.
Leeds United squad available for Southampton: Meslier, Ayling, Amapdu, Cresswell, Cooper, Piroe, Kamara, Bamford, Summerville, Anthony, Klaesson, Rodon, Shackleton, James, Struijk, Gray, Rutter, Byram, Poveda, Darlow, Gelhardt, Gruev, Joseph
