Leeds United correspondent Phil Hay has claimed Patrick Bamford is likely to feature against both Aston Villa and Norwich City.

The Lowdown: Bamford back on the bench

Bamford has played just 22 minutes of action since his last league start in September, missing with ankle, hamstring and foot problems.

Leeds have struggled without their main striker as a result, slipping into a real relegation battle as Bamford watches on from the sideline.

The 28-year-old did make a return to the bench against Leicester City on the weekend but didn’t feature, however, it seems as if Leeds supporters will finally get to see the forward in back-to-back home games.

The Latest: Hay’s claim

Writing in a piece for The Athletic shared on Wednesday morning, Hay claimed that Bamford ‘is far more likely to figure against Aston Villa and Norwich City this week’.

He did add that Jesse Marsch would need to be cautious when it comes to the striker, but backed Bamford to adopt a poacher role at Elland Road.

The Verdict: Huge

The next two fixtures could be do or die when it comes to Leeds’ chances of survival, so having Bamford back playing is a major boost for the Whites.

He has contributed to four Premier League goals in just 459 minutes of action this season, with those helping the club pick up four points at the beginning of the campaign.

Hopefully, he can find his feet quickly in a new look formation under Marsch, where he looks set to play in a front two instead of leading the line as he did under Marcelo Bielsa.

In other news, one Leeds target has been advised to stay put. Find out who it is here.