Leeds United's striker options for Championship run-in as club assess Jean-Kevin Augustin

Patrick Bamford

The prospect of losing Augustin is obviously a blow but it should be remembered that Patrick Bamford is clearly the club's first choice striker at present and has been for some time when fully fit.

Bamford might have been frustrated by two separate knee injuries in his first season at Leeds - which forced him to miss 22 league games as Kemar Roofe led the line - but Bamford has been in fine shape for his second campaign and has already made 35 league starts.

Bamford will admit himself that he should be on more than 13 goals for the season but that is still the joint-eighth best in the division and the importance of Bamford's hold up play is well documented.

The presence of a fit Augustin would obviously have provided another option and stiffer competition for places but to all extents and purposes, Bamford was highly likely to start United's last nine games anyway in the lone striker role if remaining in decent form and shape and crucially injury free.

It should also be remembered that Leeds only play one upfront.

Tyler Roberts

Even with Augustin fit, Tyler Roberts would probably have resumed the season as United's second option in the lone striker role and indeed the forward was strongly pushing his claims to start before lockdown.

Roberts is another player who has been frustrated by injuries at Leeds but the Wales international is a special talent when fit and still only 21 years old and not turning 22 until next January.

Roberts was electric after coming on as a 67th minute substitute for Bamford in the 4-0 win at Hull City in February in which the no 11 bagged a quickfire and clinical brace but Roberts still had to settle for a place on the bench in the subsequent hosting of Huddersfield Town as Bamford again led the line.

Roberts then came on with 11 minutes left and the former West Brom youngster is said to have been excelling in training of late and Bielsa might have a job keeping him out of the side.

Roberts, though, is also very effective as a no 10 and the former West Brom youngster has also played out wide for Leeds giving Bielsa plenty of options of where to play him.

Jack Harrison

As long as Bamford and Roberts stay fit Leeds should be fine - or at the very least one of them.

Thereafter, if Augustin is out, there is no denying that United will be short of options, hence Bielsa's keenness for the Whites to recruit in January after Arsenal loanee Eddie Nketiah had been recalled.

Teen star Ryan Edmondson would have been the obvious shout as far as promoting from United's under-23s is concerned but Edmondson inured his knee at the end of January and required surgery, just after impressing Bielsa with a "great performance" in training.

Edmondson was expected to be out for 12 weeks but it will obviously take time for the 19-year-old to reach peak fitness.

Consequently, IF there is a need for a third striker option after Bamford and Roberts then winger Jack Harrison would seem the most likely call with Bielsa having already used the Manchester City loanee in that position when without other options.

Helder Costa could also be another shout.

That said, Bielsa is clearly a master at getting players accustomed to playing in different positions and one way or the other you would expect the Argentine genius to find a way.

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