Bamford proves he can score in the Premier League with his goals for Leeds

Patrick Bamford has taken two games to prove something he couldn’t in two seasons.

Bamford has shown he can score goals in the Premier League by netting in Leeds’ first two games back in the big time.

He has answered his doubters, who claimed he could not cut it in the top flight because of his barren spells with Crystal Palace, Burnley and Middlesbrough between 2015 and 2017.

Bamford managed just one goal – against Southampton for Middlesbrough in May 2017 – from his first 27 appearances in the Premier League.

He now looks totally at home in the top tier and his cool finish for Leeds’ third goal in their thrilling 4-3 win over Fulham was Thierry Henryesque.

He won the penalty for Leeds’ second, while his best moment was his pacy and powerful run down the left and precise pull-back for Helder Costa to score the fourth.

Like every player at Leeds, his improvement is down to Marcelo Bielsa and the Argentinian knew when he took over at Elland Road in June 2018 that Bamford would be perfect for his style of football.

He spent virtually all of his first transfer budget to sign the former Chelsea starlet a month later for £7million in a sign of his belief in him.

Bamford, 27, has repaid Bielsa with 26 league goals in 68 league appearances for Leeds, but he contributes much more than that for Bielsa.

Bielsa loves his selfless work rate as a No 9 and he leads the press, closing down the opposition defenders.

This is why Bielsa stuck with him last season, even though on-loan Arsenal hitman Eddie Nketiah was more prolific.

Bamford has also kept his starting place ahead of club record £26million signing Rodrigo, who is taking time to adjust to life back in the Premier League.

“It’s a nice start, hopefully I can keep it up,” said Bamford. “The main thing is I’m doing my bit for the team. If that’s scoring goals, that’s probably the best thing a striker can do.

“If it’s not that, then it’s doing the other things and whilst it’s tiring, I just try and do as much as I can and hopefully the team appreciate it.”