Patrick Bamford has hit back at criticism from David O'Leary in wake of Leeds United's promotion to the Premier League.
Leeds secured a long-awaited return to the Premier League over the course of the weekend, with both West Bromwich Albion and Brentford losing their games against Huddersfield and Stoke respectively.
The Whites were crowned Champions of the division on Saturday following Brentford's 1-0 defeat to Stoke, and they rounded off the weekend with an emphatic 3-1 win away at Derby County.
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Bamford has been a key player for Leeds this season, with Marcelo Bielsa continuing to show unwavering faith in the striker despite the additions of Eddie Nketiah and Jean-Kevin Augustin this term.
The 26-year-old has scored 16 goals in 44 Championship appearances, finishing the season as Leeds' top scorer after a positive season under Bielsa.
Bamford has come under criticism on multiple occasions this season, with stats showing that the forward has missed more "big chances" than any other player in the Championship this season.
Speaking on talkSPORT, former Leeds manager David O'Leary has urged Bielsa to sign a "top-class" striker as they prepare to embark on life back in the Premier League - a statement that Bamford has hit out at.
He said: "Patrick Bamford has done great, but I still think another centre-forward would be very important for them, personally. I’d like to see them sign a really top-class centre-forward."
Taking to Twitter, Bamford, seemingly fed up of the constant criticism that seems to come his way, simply posted: "And so it starts".
The Verdict
Bamford has had his fair share of critics since arriving at Leeds, but the facts are that he has scored 16 goals to help Leeds United win promotion to the Premier League.
That is an outstanding achievement for someone who has never really been prolific at Championship level before, and 16 goals is a really positive return for the striker.
He fits into Bielsa's system and the Argentine has huge amounts of trust in the striker, and I can see him starting the first game of their Premier League campaign next term.