Jermaine Beckford has told the Leeds United podcast that Gareth Southgate’s comments on Patrick Bamford this week should be considered ‘massive’ for the striker.
Bamford missed out on making the England squad, but Southgate referenced the Leeds forward in his first press conference of the international break.
Southgate suggested that Bamford came extremely close to making the squad, and only narrowly missed out.
And Beckford feels that the 27-year-old Leeds man has really proven a point this term.
“Do you know what? Even if you didn’t score another goal between now and the end of the season, nobody can say that this has been a poor season from you,” he said.
“That you haven’t been able to achieve certain heights or showcase your talents. Nobody can say that to you.
“You’ve proven a point to everybody, to the point where Gareth Southgate even said ‘you are that close’. It was a flip of a coin between you and Ollie Watkins. That’s massive! Nobody can doubt you.”
Bamford has hit 14 goals so even if he didn’t score again, his total eclipses what many people would have predicted him to reach this season.
However, Bamford is likely to want to continue to build on his progress so far this campaign, and continue scoring.
If the Leeds front man can hit form in the next few months then it is not out of the question that he could force his way into the England side for the European Championships.
Bamford will next be in action for Leeds in two weekends’ time, when they take on Sheffield United.
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