Leeds United have been dealt a potentially huge injury blow ahead of Sunday's Premier League meeting with Brentford.
What's the latest?
That's according to a report by Leeds Live, who claim that the availability of Patrick Bamford - who has not played a minute of first-team football since the 3-2 victory over Wolverhampton Wanderers back in March - is touch and go for the trip to west London on the final day of the season, before suggesting that the centre-forward's lack of match fitness could well see the 28-year-old ruled out of the final day clash regardless.
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Regarding the England international's current condition, Leeds Live state: "It remains touch and go as to whether Patrick Bamford will be involved at Brentford but his lack of match sharpness might keep him out even if he is deemed fit."
Huge blow
Considering just how crucial a player Bamford is for Leeds, the news that the striker looks unlikely to make a full recovery in time for what is undoubtedly the Whites' biggest game of the season is certainly awful news for the club.
With three points being an absolute must if Jesse Marsch's side are to avoid slipping back into the second tier of English football ahead of the 2022/23 campaign, the £18m-rated striker being unavailable for selection would come as a huge blow to Leeds' chances of leaving the Brentford Community Stadium victorious.
Indeed, it is abundantly clear just how much the Whites have missed the £74k-per-week striker - who scored 17 goals over 38 Premier League appearances last season - in the current campaign, with Leeds having currently scored 22 goals fewer than the 62 they managed in 2021/22.
However, should Bamford indeed be ruled out once again on Sunday, Marsch must find a way to deal with the loss of the 28-year-old as best he possibly can - or else Elland Road could be witnessing Championship football once more come August.
AND in other news: £13.8m out of pocket: Victor Orta had a nightmare on "headless" £52k-p/w Leeds flop