Patrick Bamford on crucial reasons for Arsenal striker Eddie Nketiah staying put with Leeds United

ONE THAT GOT AWAY: Leeds United's Arsenal loanee striker Eddie Nketiah reacts after his 95th-minute header was saved in Saturday's 3-3 draw against Cardiff City at Elland Road. Photo by Richard Sellers/PA Wire.

PATRICK BAMFORD believes it is crucial that Arsenal loanee striker Eddie Nketiah stays with Leeds United for the duration of the Championship campaign.

United beat off competition from a host of clubs to land England under-21s striker Nketiah on a season-long loan in August but the 20-year-old is still awaiting his first Whites league start.

Nketiah was set to finally make his full Whites Championship debut in November’s clash at home to Queens Park Rangers but the young Gunner then picked up a lower abdominal injury in training the day before.

The problem ruled Nketiah out for a month and Bamford has been in a rich vein of form in the lone striker role of late with the forward netting four goals in his last eight games.

With Nketiah continually having to make to do with second-half outings from the bench, Whites head coach Marcelo Bielsa has already fielded questions about the possibility of Arsenal recalling the forward come the opening of the January transfer window and potentially loaned elsewhere.

Bielsa said he was in no position to answer and that only Nketiah and Arsenal would know what the immediate future held but United’s head coach admitted he hoped the striker would stay, not just for the rest of the season but in an ideal world also next term too.

And despite being in competition with the young forward for the lone striker, the feeling is shared by Bamford who insists that even with Tyler Roberts set to return from a hamstring injury, United would need several different options upfront and particularly over Christmas and new year.

Asked how important was that Nketiah stayed put at Leeds, Bamford said: “I think it is crucial as the Championship is a really demanding league.