Chelsea ‘in contact’ with Crystal Palace over Bamford

Crystal Palace assistant manager Keith Millen has told the South London Press that Chelsea have been in contact with his club about Patrick Bamford.

The Blues striker, 22, has not started a league match since moving to Selhurst Park on a season-long loan.

This week there have been reports that Chelsea are concerned about Bamford’s lack of first-team action and could recall him in January.

And Millen said: “We have spoken to Chelsea. They keep in contact with us and really do analyse what is going on with their players.

“Early on he found it quite a step up as far as the tempo and demands of the Premier League, plus the way we play and train. He had to adapt.

“He’s been a little bit unlucky and not done a lot wrong. It’s just about the balance of players on the pitch because he can play number nine or 10.

“But it’s been a good experience for him but shows the step up from the Championship. It’s another level.

“Chelsea will monitor it because they will want to see him having more game time.”

Millen added that a knee problem has contributed to Bamford’s slow start to the campaign.

“He has also had a little niggly problem with his knee which has not stopped him playing but has not been ideal,” the former Brentford defender explained.