Bamford ‘shouldn’t be in England squad’ claims pundit

Jason Soutar
Patrick Bamford

Jamie O’Hara believes Leeds United striker Patrick Bamford should not have been called up for the England squad.

The ex-Tottenham midfielder claims Manchester United teenager Mason Greenwood is more deserving of a place.

Bamford received his maiden call-up for the current international break, making his England debut on Sunday in a 4-0 win against Andorra.


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The 28-year-old had a superb 2020/21 season with Leeds, scoring 17 and assisting eight in the Premier League as his team finished ninth.

His fine form sparked debate on whether or not he should have been selected for Gareth Southgate‘s Euro 2020 squad, but the player narrowly missed out.

And while discussing Bamford’s debut, O’Hara told talkSPORT: “I do not think Bamford should even be there [in the England squad].

“Mason Greenwood should be there in my opinion.

“Is Patrick Bamford going to play in the World Cup next year? He is not, he is not.

“I like Bamford, good player for Leeds, probably deserves a cap and he has got one.

“So fair play to him and fair play to Gareth Southgate for handing debuts out like confetti.

“So, at the end of the day, I just look at and think, he has a ready-made superstar in Mason Greenwood, why is he not playing for England?”

England’s next World Cup qualifier is in Poland on Wednesday night in what should be the trickiest fixture of their qualifying group.

Southgate’s men cruised to victory against the Andorrans on Sunday, making it two 4-0 wins in a row after beating Hungary in Budapest on Thursday.

The ex-Middlesbrough boss changed his whole starting XI for the match, notably starting Liverpool star Trent Alexander-Arnold in midfield.

Bamford led the line alongside Arsenal youngster Bukayo Saka and Manchester United’s Jesse Lingard.

Lingard scored two and provided an assist while Saka assisted both of the 28-year-old’s goals while scoring one himself.

Saka – who celebrated his birthday on Sunday – described the match as the “perfect birthday present”.

“It was the perfect birthday present for me.

“I am really happy with the reception everyone gave me. It really shows how proud they are of me and I think that meant a lot for me and it made me want to give my all.”