Patrick Bamford open to playing alongside Leeds teammate Eddie Nketiah

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Patrick Bamford has explained he would be open to the idea of playing next to Leeds United teammate Eddie Nketiah in attack.

Bamford, 26, has started the new season as the first-choice striker and started every Championship game so far.

The left-footed ace has four league goals under his belt so far and is spearheading the attack strongly.

But he has a hungry understudy in 20-year-old Arsenal loanee Nketiah, who has three goals in five competitions so far and his only starts so far have come in the cup.

Manager Marcelo Bielsa has preferred to deploy just one striker at Elland Road, with two attacking wingers either side.

Many have suggested that the Yorkshire giants deploy both their strikers in a two-man attack, but that’s yet to be tested out in the Championship.

Bamford has claimed that he would be prepared to work in tandem with Nketiah.

“I think so,’ Bamford responded when asked if he could picture himself playing next to Nketiah in future, as quoted by West Yorkshire Sport Daily.

“He’s played across the whole front three so he’s not just a striker. Last year me and Roofe sometimes played together. I think it has its positives in certain systems having two strikers, we just believe what the gaffer wants. “

TBR’s View:

There have been suggestions that Leeds need to fit both Bamford and Nketiah in the same team, so it will be interesting to see if a stubborn Bielsa is willing to adapt.

It looks like Bamford can’t be dropped considering his impressive start to the campaign and he works hard as the Leeds frontman.

But Nketiah is a natural finisher that has the potential to cause havoc in the Championship and giving him more minutes would improve their attack.

Helder Costa is another player not starting for Leeds right now and Bielsa has a nice dilemma of trying to fit quality individuals into his XI.