Training routine crucial, says Leeds United’s Patrick Bamford

The centre-forward says that for him, keeping a routine is important.

Although what players are asked to do varies, the Whites usually have two sessions daily, one of running, one of gym work, before Sunday’s day of rest. Bamford tries to get everything done as early as possible, leaving him free to use the rest of the day as he pleases.

Yesterday, the Football League wrote to its clubs advising them not to start training together until May 16 at the earliest, although until the Government’s social distancing regulations are relaxed, it is irrelevant.

With promotion to the Premier League resting on their final nine matches of the 2019-20 season assuming the Football League are able to complete them, it is important Bamford and his team-mates keep sharp in the meantime.

Leeds players are expected to send the results of their work to the strength and conditioning coaches, and photographs showing them weighing themselves daily.

“I’ve tried to keep a routine in terms of getting up in a morning and doing our programme straight away,” Bamford revealed. “Then I’ll come back and have breakfast and get on with the day

“As long as I’ve got the routine, it’s not bad really. It’s when I get up late that I lose my motivation.

“All of the players who aren’t carrying little niggles, are getting sent a programme which alters day to day but it generally has one bit or running and one bit of gym.

“Sometimes the gym can be short movement patterns outside and some days we have the exercise bikes rather than running, which they delivered to everyone’s homes.

“The programme is from Monday to Saturday, we have Sunday off and then go again on Monday.”

The Football League’s contingency for a resumption squeezes the remaining matches into an eight-week period, including two-legged play-off semi-finals and a final.

Leeds support the League’s view that the season needs to be completed if at all possible for the sake of its integrity.

Abandoning and voiding it would deny them the chance to play in the top division for the first time since 2004.

Leeds are top of the Championship, seven points clear of the play-off places.