Phil Hay has dropped a teasing injury update concerning Leeds United centre-forward Patrick Bamford.

What's the latest?

In comments made on a recent Q&A for The Athletic ahead of the Arsenal fixture on Saturday, the Leeds correspondent revealed that, while the 28-year-old was not deemed ready to feature at The Emirates, it is very possible that the England international does make a return to action prior to the end of the current campaign.

Hay went on to suggest in a further comment made after the 2-1 loss that, with the Whites lacking any real attacking threat in the striker's absence, Jesse Marsch could well look to take a risk on reintroducing the forward to his starting XI over the club's remaining Premier League fixtures - even if he is not 100% fit.

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Regarding the current condition of Bamford, the journalist said: "Patrick Bamford isn't ready to return, although it's very possible that Bamford will feature before the season ends...  I'd be gambling on Bamford if he's ready for the last two games."

Supporters will be buzzing

Considering the fact that Leeds' 2-1 defeat in north London, coupled with Everton's 2-1 win over Leicester City, saw the Whites slip back into the relegation zone with just three fixtures of the Premier League season left to play, the news that Bamford could make a return to first-team football before the end of the current campaign is sure to have left the Elland Road faithful buzzing.

Indeed, the £18m-rated striker proved just how important he is to the Leeds attack over his 38 Premier League fixtures last term, scoring 17 goals, registering seven assists and creating five big chances for his teammates, as well as taking an average of 2.8 shots and making 0.8 key passes per game.

These returns saw the £74k-per-week forward average a highly impressive SofaScore match rating of 7.01, ranking him as his club's seventh-best performer in the English top-flight - with the 28-year-old playing a key role in Leeds securing a top-half finish in the league.

As such, should Bamford be able to refind this level of goalscoring form upon his potential return to the side over their last three games of 2021/22, it would undoubtedly come as a huge boost to the Whites' chances of remaining a Premier League outfit next season - an outcome that everyone involved with the club will certainly be hoping for.

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