On-loan striker Patrick Bamford made his debut for MK Dons today, and drew rave reviews. Assuming that Dons manager Karl Robinson thinks that comparing a young striker to Fernando Torres is still praise, anyway:

People criticise Fernando Torres but he (Bamford) has got that run about him. You don't think he's going to get there and he opens his legs and has a long stride. The penalty was a phenomenal turn of pace. He was always a threat. I know how good he is, he's a talent.

Patrick's got the number nine shirt now and he'll keep that until his performances deteriorate.

-Source: MK News.

Milton Keynes, currently in League One, won 5-1 at home against Cochelster today, and although Bamford didn't score any of the goals the 19-year-old played a huge part in the victory, assisting on Luke Chadwick's 28th-minute opener before winning a penalty ten minutes later.

Bamford is some way off making a big difference at Chelsea -- he probably needs another two seasons on loan before we can talk about him seriously as a Premier League player -- but it's extremely gratifying to see him make such an immediate impact at his new team. Although the striker situation looks grim at present, having the likes of Islam Feruz and Bamford (not to mention some guy named Romelu Lukaku) around means that the future is pretty bright.