---
title: "Leeds: Phil Hay drops positive Kalvin Phillips and Patrick Bamford update"
canonical: "https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/phil-hay-leeds-injury-latest-phillips-bamford/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Henry Jackson"
section: "Leeds United"
published: "2022-03-01T18:40:11Z"
modified: "2022-03-01T18:40:11Z"
---

# Leeds: Phil Hay drops positive Kalvin Phillips and Patrick Bamford update

**Leeds United pair Kalvin Phillips and Patrick Bamford are close to returning from long-term injuries, according to reliable journalist Phil Hay.**

### The Lowdown: Phillips and Bamford long-term absentees

The Whites are enduring a season to forget in the Premier League, with Marcelo Bielsa sacked and relegation back to the Championship now a real possibility.

While [injuries](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/leeds-united/ausfallzeiten/verein/399) can’t be solely used as an excuse for Leeds’ struggles, they have clearly played a part, with [Phillips](https://www.whoscored.com/Players/270446/Show/Kalvin-Phillips) and [Bamford](https://www.whoscored.com/Players/109670/Show/Patrick-Bamford) two of the most costly absentees. The duo haven’t featured at all so far in 2022 and have only made [17 league starts combined](https://www.whoscored.com/Teams/19/Show/England-Leeds) this season.

\[freshpress-quiz id=“383507″\]

### The Latest: Hay gives positive update

However, in a Q&A for [The Athletic](https://theathletic.com/3155050/2022/02/28/leeds-united-fans-what-do-you-think-of-jesse-marschs-appointment/), Hay claimed that both Phillips and Bamford could be back in the fold soon.

When a Leeds fan suggested that the duo could be close to returning amid hearing that they could feature for the Whites’ under-23 side this week, the journalist replied: “They really aren’t far off.”

[Latest Leeds United news!](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/web-stories/latest-leeds-united-news-35/)

### The Verdict: Season-changing boost?

This is an enormous boost for Leeds, with Phillips and Bamford arguably the first names on the team sheet when fit, along with Raphinha, having been [instrumental figures](https://www.whoscored.com/Teams/19/Archive/England-Leeds) in the Whites’ excellent 2020/21 campaign.

The former has been [hailed](https://www.teamtalk.com/news/southgate-lavishes-kalvin-phillips-praise-names-leeds-mans-qualities) as ‘excellent’ by England manager Gareth Southgate, winning his country’s [Player of the Year](https://www.englandfootball.com/articles/2021/Sep/01/20210109-kalvin-phillips-named-england-mens-player-of-the-year-2021) award last year in the process, while the latter has been [described](https://www.football365.com/news/klopp-liverpool-transfer-bamford-leeds-summer) as ‘exceptional’ by Jurgen Klopp.

Having them back in the fold should make a huge difference to Leeds’ season, with their quality in midfield and attack respectively making the Whites a more fearsome proposition under Jesse Marsch as the new manager aims to pull the team clear of relegation trouble.

***In other news, a journalist has backed Leeds to sign one player this summer. Find out who it is [here](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/leeds-united-transfer-rumours/brenden-aaronson-backed-summer-move-leeds-marsch/).***