Chris Sutton has shut down the thought of Patrick Bamford earning an England call on BBC 606 by claiming ‘he shouldn’t’ get picked.
Leeds recorded a 3-0 win at Aston Villa on Friday night, with Bamford netting a second-half hat-trick, and in total, scoring his fourth, fifth and sixth league goals of the season.
It has raised the question as to whether Bamford should be picked by Gareth Southgate when he selects his squad for the forthcoming international’s next month.
Sutton was asked whether Bamford should be picked, as he provided a blunt response and suggested that he doesn’t get ahead of three players.
“No, he shouldn’t,” Sutton told BBC 606. “He scored a brilliant hat-trick and it’s not easy scoring a hat-trick at Aston Villa [a reference to the fact that he’s scored a hat-trick at Villa Park] only a few of us have done it.
“But would you have him in front of Calvert-Lewin? Danny Ings? Harry Kane? Would you? Would you?!”
The problem Bamford faces is that there is serious competition ahead of him in England’s attacking pecking order and he doesn’t have the advantage of previously being picked.
Bamford isn’t the only English striker running riot this season – Harry Kane, Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Danny Ings and Michail Antonio are others showcasing their worth.
It’s obvious that Kane is the main man, but the likes of Ings and Calvert-Lewin now hold the edge over those coming behind them because they have had a taste of putting on the Three Lions shirt and scoring.
Either way, Bamford is providing a selection headache for Southgate and all he has to do is continue his work and he might be in a situation where he cannot be missed.
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