Leeds United have suffered another gutting injury setback to Patrick Bamford after a fresh update emerged ahead of their clash with West Ham United...

What's the latest?

According to Football Insider, the Whites now fear that the 29-year-old striker is facing an extended stint on the sidelines as he continues to struggle with recovery from a hernia operation.

The England international underwent surgery during the World Cup break in a bid to be fit for the resumption of the Premier League but he's yet to fully return to Thorp Arch.

It marks yet another blow to Bamford, who has endured a miserable year-and-a-half with injuries, and manager Jesse Marsch.

Another frustrating blow

Since the start of the 2020/21 campaign, the former Middlesbrough and Chelsea forward has only been able to start 11 matches across all competitions and that comes off the back of a 17-goal campaign in Leeds' first season back in the big time.

We are yet to see the 6 foot 1 star return to such exploits because of the constant troubles over the last two seasons and that's rather damaging to Marsch as he would surely be desperate for a fully fit and free-scoring Bamford to feature in the starting XI.

Rodrigo has stepped up to the plate in his absence, bagging nine goals since the start of the season but that's not enough and his position switch leaves open a gap elsewhere.

Meanwhile, other alternatives - such as summer signing Wilfried Gnonto and academy gem Joe Gelhardt - are perhaps a little too young and inexperienced to be relied on week-in, week-out.

TEAMtalk editor and journalist James Marshment recently claimed that Bamford "has been such a major loss" to Leeds, whilst Marsch himself is hoping that the recent operation will be the "difference-maker" in getting him back to 100%.

Indeed, the American head coach will still be hurting from such a massive miss in Bamford, so the quicker he can get back on the training pitch, the better.

It's certainly gutting news to receive ahead of a crucial bottom-of-the-table clash with the Hammers tonight.

AND in other news, Marsch must unleash Leeds' 20 y/o "weapon" tonight, he could cause West Ham nightmares...