Sky Sports pundit Michael Dawson expects Leeds United forward Patrick Bamford to feel 'mentally drained' after sustaining his fourth injury since the start of last season.
Bamford was withdrawn inside 28 minutes after sustaining a suspected groin injury and looks braced for another spell on the sidelines. The 28-year-old played just 10 times for Leeds across all competitions last term and was beginning to look as if a full recovery was possible.
Dawson, who covered Leeds' 2-2 draw against Southampton on Sky Sports Soccer Saturday, believes Bamford's injury problems played a role in the Whites' struggles last season.
"Last year the disappointment of him being out for large periods and that's why they struggled," Dawson said. "Dan James came on and had a great run and shot down the left but Gavin Bazunu made a good save in the first half.
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"He was actually changed in the second half which wouldn't have been nice for him. But Patrick Bamford, when you've been injured and then you get to a level of fitness then you get injured and you're out for two or three weeks. Then you've got to get up to match fitness again, it's so hard, it's so mentally draining to have to deal with that. He's going to be there on the sidelines again.
"Hopefully it's not too long. He played on with it for a few minutes and then had to be changed. I hope for him, captain when Liam Cooper isn't there, I hope he's back soon."
Rodrigo scored just 30 seconds after the break as he guided a low driven cross from Jack Harrison beyond Bazunu at his near post. He doubled his tally on the hour-mark when he was left unmarked at the back post to head Pascal Struijk's flick into an empty net.
Ralph Hasenhuttl responded by reverting to a back-four and introducing a trio of attacking players in the shape of Adam Armstrong, Joe Aribo and Sekou Mara from the bench.
Mara, who was making his debut for Saints, was particularly impressive, and Dawson believes his introduction was decisive in helping Southampton get back on level terms.
"I just couldn't see Southampton getting back in it. But then Ralph Hasenhuttl in his defence instantly thought 'what am I going to do. We haven't performed well, but I'm making substitutions'.
"Sekou Mara came on for his debut, and Joel Aribo also came off the bench, I'm surprised he didn't start. Instantly they just changed. They were on the front foot and I was thinking 'wow, Leeds are in big trouble'.
"They hadn't even been in Leeds' half, Meslier had been a spectator. They get the goal, great goal it was, everything good that happened for Southampton was down to Mara. It started down the left wing, Adam Armstrong whipped a ball in, Mara gets across Robin Koch and it goes to Aribo, and he's now 1 v 1 with Meslier and he just chops it and puts it in the bottom corner.
"Your thinking 'wow game on' and from then it was just an absolute onslaught from Southampton. Mara picks the ball up, and this pass was like de Bruyne, it was incredible. He was facing the wrong way, he turned and he made this diagonal ball inside the box.
"Harrison didn't see Walker-Peters run in behind and he took a touch and just whipped it across for 2-2. Southampton in the first half were disappointing but second half Ralph Hasenhuttl will be delighted with the way his team showed the spirit. Disappointing last week, disappointing first hour but he can take positives from the last half hour."
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