Leeds United manager Sam Allardyce is sweating on the fitness of striker Patrick Bamford this weekend after he was forced off injured during the defeat to West Ham.
Leeds’ final game of the season looms this afternoon with a home clash against Tottenham their last chance to climb out of the bottom three.
Not only do Sam Allardyce’s side need a win to keep up their chances of survival, but also hope that Everton and Leicester’s results go their way too.
Allardyce may have to cope without Patrick Bamford for the game, as he was forced off against West Ham with injury, to then give this update during the pre-match press conference on Friday:
“Patrick, we’re going to give him as long as we can, we certainly until tomorrow to see where we’re at, before we make our final decision for Sunday.”
Here, we look at two players that Allardyce will need to call upon, if the number nine is not available today…
Rodrigo
During the same injury update, Big Sam revealed that Rodrigo had trained on Friday, suggesting that he was closer to being fit than Bamford was.
Not only that but he alluded to the fact that he is willing to gamble on the fitness of those that are willing to play through these niggling injuries – Rodrigo being the main one.
The Spaniard is surely going to put everything into doing the most to keep Leeds in the Premier League, as he has done all season with 13 league goals.
Allardyce will need his killer instinct in the final third to stand a chance of beating Spurs.
Leeds v Spurs predictions?
Leeds win
Draw
Spurs win
Willy Gnonto
Leeds don’t have a Raphinha this time around to drag the side over the line on the final day, but they do have someone with match-winning quality in Willy Gnonto.
The young Italian has struggled of late to make the same impact as he did earlier in the season, but that’s no fault of his own when faced with such poor team performances.
Gnonto simply has to play for Leeds to make their way out of the relegation zone with a win, knowing what he can do at full tilt.
Leeds need their best attackers playing, and Gnonto is one of those players.