Former Middlesbrough manager Aitor Karanka has suggested that Leeds United forward Patrick Bamford has all the characteristics needed to be a Premier League player.
Bamford has been in hot form so far this season, scoring four goals and providing one assist in six Championship starts.
The 26-year-old has been Marcelo Bielsa’s first-choice striker since Kemar Roofe left to join Anderlecht this summer.
Speaking to the Athletic, Karanka, who managed Bamford at Middlesbrough, heaped praise on the striker.
He said: “Patrick is goals.
“He has everything to be a Premier League player.”
The Spaniard added that he felt Bamford often drew unfair criticism and suggested that could be due to his body language.
He explained: “Sometimes his body language looks like he’s not motivated.
“But he’s more than motivated. When I was in Middlesbrough he was always coming to my office to watch clips and training sessions because he wants to learn."
Karanka concluded: “As a striker he’s amazing, but as a person, even better.”
Bamford’s goalscoring form has helped Bielsa’s side to sit third in the Championship, just three points behind league leaders Swansea City.
The Verdict
I think Karanka is right, Bamford has drawn more criticism at Elland Road than his record deserves.
The 26-year-old only made 25 appearances last season due to injury but found the net 10 times for the Whites, while this season he has scored four in seven appearances.
He received stick from the fans last season and was criticised by some ex-Leeds players at the start of this campaign.
Bamford is responding to that in the best way possible at the moment, by scoring goals.
If he continues to do that then he may get the chance next season to prove that Karanka is right in his suggestion that he has what it takes to be a Premier League player.