Leeds United striker Patrick Bamford "has got it in him to be spectacular" but needs to be more consistent if he wants to be a leading forward, according to Darren Bent.

The 25-year-old joined the Whites from Middlesbrough last summer but saw his debut season hampered by injury.

Bamford made 25 appearances for Leeds under Marcelo Bielsa last season, scoring 10 goals and generating two assists.

Speaking to Football Insider, Bent outlined what Bamford needs to do to succeed at Elland Road.

He said: "We know that if Patrick Bamford gets a consistent season where he plays a full season, he’ll score goals, but the problem is he doesn’t play a full season.

"He always plays half of the season or three quarters and as a centre-forward, if you want to score goals and help your team get promoted you need to go from start to finish.

“Injuries, you can’t do anything about that, that’s not your fault, but it’s a lack of form and inconsistency. You need your striker to go from the start all the way to the end scoring goals.

“The boys used to tell me at Derby that he wouldn’t turn up for 10 games but for the next five games he’d be brilliant for five and then go missing again – you can’t have that.

"For me, for consistency, you’d go with Kemar Roofe but you know Bamford got it in him for half a season to be spectacular."

The Verdict

Bent is right. Bamford has shown in previous seasons that he has the ability to be a top striker in the Championship, having scored 17 goals for Middlesbrough in the 2014/15 season.

Consistency has been his issue but a significant run in the side could help him solve that, given that he has scored more than 11 goals in every season in which he's played more than 25 league games.

He may get that chance next season as Kemar Roofe's future at Elland Road has come into question.

According to Noel Whelan, the 26-year-old's head has reportedly been turned by an offer from Steven Gerrard's Rangers, which would likely mean Bamford would be the Whites' first-choice striker for the upcoming season.