Andros Townsend has told the ITV Football Show Podcast that he is ‘sure’ that Leeds striker Patrick Bamford would make the controversial switch to the Republic of Ireland in 12-18 months if he isn’t picked for England.
In the past, there has been a lot of talk about Bamford, who can represent the Republic of Ireland through his grandparents, going down that road.
But as of yet, nothing has materialised for Lincolnshire-born striker. And given his recent goalscoring start to the Premier League season, it’s perhaps obvious that his eyes will be on an England call down the line.
Crystal Palace winger, Townsend, who came up against Bamford on Saturday, shared that he was impressed by him at the weekend and backed him for an England call down the line, but admitted, he might have to switch if he doesn’t get that phone call he craves.
“Patrick Bamford, he has been on a hell of a journey,” said Townsend. “He’s only young but he’s been a journeyman, like myself, he has been out on a lot of loans. Some have suited him and some haven’t.
“But he has found this guy in Bielsa. He loves players who work hard, first and foremost and have the quality after. Bamford’s got that in abundance. The thing that impressed me on Saturday was how well he took his goal and his offside goal. How well he took those two strikes. Clinical, clinical finishes.
“Unless there are one or two injuries, he’s probably just below the players who are currently in the England squad. But if he keeps that going and keeps scoring goals, like Ings proved last season, then he’s definitely going to be in with a shout with an England call-up sooner rather than later.
On playing for ROI: “100%, [he can play for the Republic of Ireland now]. But the form he is in and the goals he is scoring, he can see an England call-up in the future if he continues. So, 100% this season I don’t think he will switch over to Ireland. But if it doesn’t come in the next year to 18 months then maybe his form does dip then I am sure he will make that switch to Ireland.”
The problem that Bamford faces is that there is some serious competition when it comes to English strikers scoring goals.
There are your obvious players that will be picked – Harry Kane, Danny Ings, Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Marcus Rashford and Tammy Abraham – all have been picked in the latest squad barring Ings who is injured.
But the likes of Callum Wilson, Ollie Watkins, Che Adams and Bamford himself are also knocking on the door from the outside, so the competition is seriously deep.
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