It has been a dream start to 2024 for Patrick Bamford. The forward has rediscovered his mojo in front of goal, hitting three goals in as many matches as possible.
Bamford has seized his opportunity to impress and is expected to spearhead the attack again when Leeds United welcome Preston North End to Elland Road on Sunday. Speaking on My Mate’s a Footballer Podcast about his upturn in form, Bamford said: “The form kind of came out of nowhere. I always knew in my head that as soon as I started games, I had that feeling that I was going to score. That still remains the same, so I go into a game thinking I’m going to score. If I think that way, it brings it forward into reality.
“The players don’t really speak about it [form] between themselves. I feel like form is something used, but never used for the elites. You would never say [Erling] Haaland is on form because he always is.”
Bamford had to be patient and wait for a chance to stake his claim. His first Championship start came on New Year’s Day against Birmingham City, having played second fiddle to Joel Piroe in the first half of the campaign. He played 16 times off the bench without scoring in the league.
“The more you think about it the more it starts to become a problem because you’re desperate for that next goal,” said Bamford. “I’ve been in that place where you’re desperate for the goal, you try too hard and when it comes to a natural finish, you’re tense and you snatch at it, you can’t get too high or too low.”
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