Leeds United forward Patrick Bamford has outlined his role as lone-striker in Marcelo Bielsa's current set-up, and believes he's become more of a 'team player' under the Argentine.

The 26-year-old has come under the spotlight this season. He was tasked with being the man to fire Leeds United back into the promised land and with 13 goals this season, he's certainly helped.

But ask any Leeds fan, and Bamford himself, and they'll say that it should be much more than 13.

Speaking to the Yorkshire Evening Post, Bamford admitted that he’s never been deemed much of a team player in the past:

“Over the years, I’ve never ever – before I came to Leeds – been referred to as a player who works hard, as weird as that sounds. I’ve never been known as someone who works tirelessly on the pitch.”

The 6’1 striker has spent the bulk on his career on-loan in the EFL. Most of his clubs have been in the Championship and he’s had varying degrees of success with each - Leeds though, now his permanent home, seems to be the place for Bamford.

“As much as a striker loves scoring goals and would love to just save your energy, be in the right position and try and score as many as you can, this team we’re in now," he continued.

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“Without sounding big-headed, there’s a lot the team would miss out on if I just relied on scoring goals myself rather than giving the whole package.”

Bielsa’s Leeds side are the most energetic Leeds side there’s ever been - there’s pace all over the pitch and that intensity they play with was arguably what slowed them down in the second-half of last season.

But Bamford has kept on improving under Bielsa, and he’s now an integral part of both the Leeds attack and defence with their high-press.

“Whilst I have missed chances and should probably have five or six more goals than I have, the fact I’m having to give different options to the team, I’m happy doing that," told Bamford.

“Obviously, I want to score and if I can do both it’s the perfect scenario. If we’re winning the structure is perfect.”

Bamford’s main criticism this season has been his wastefulness in-front of goal.

Everyone can see his work-rate and his energy on the pitch, but as a striker with the Championship experience he has, and playing alongside some of the best players in the league, he really should be on a higher mark.

The verdict

Bielsa has changed so much at Leeds in his one-and-a-half seasons to date, and upping the ante of this side is probably the most obvious change he’s made.

Bamford isn't the only one who’s stepped up to the plate for Bielsa - whilst he’s improved thus far under the Argentine, there’s still plenty of cracks to iron out of his game.