A controversial pundit suggests that there could be a behind-the-scenes fallout over a ‘ridiculous’ Patrick Bamford development at Leeds.
Whites fans get ready to eye-roll, because Gabby Agbonlahor, who often has the West Yorkshire club living rent free in his head, doesn’t understand how Patrick Bamford has earned an England call-up ahead of Mason Greenwood.
Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, the ex-Aston Villa and England international suggested “something’s gone on” between the Manchester United player and manager Gareth Southgate.
England confirmed their 25-man squad for the games against Hungary and Andorra on the 26th of August as Bamford earned his first call up, a surprise to some for a variety of reasons, while others reckon it was about time.
🦁 A new lion in the pack! pic.twitter.com/BRMpIupff4
— Leeds United (@LUFC) August 26, 2021
The Leeds United star found the net on 17 occasions in the Premier League last season – with Harry Kane the only Englishman who found the net more times.
Asked for his assessment of Bamford being given the nod ahead of Greenwood, Agbonlahor told Football Insider correspondent Connor Whitley: “I think it’s ridiculous.
“You look at both strikers and it’s no competition, for me. Bamford is a really good player, but he doesn’t offer you what Greenwood offers.
“Greenwood is the best finisher that England have available after Harry Kane. But Kane isn’t in form at the moment, he’s not fit at the moment. For me, Greenwood would be starting these qualifiers, never mind not being in the squad.
“Something’s happened there behind the scenes, something’s going on with Gareth Southgate. He’s going back to leaving his star players out, like when he left Jack Grealish out for a while.
“It just doesn’t make sense to me. Greenwood should be in that squad, guaranteed.
“The talk of him being the future, he’s not the future he’s the present. I don’t understand it, to be honest.”
🏴 Gareth Southgate announces the England squad for their World Cup qualifiers
✅ Patrick Bamford
✅ Jesse Lingard
❌ Ben Chilwell
❌ Mason Greenwood pic.twitter.com/0mGGk7qUth— Football Daily (@footballdaily) August 26, 2021
19 year old Greenwood has just one England cap to his name, and hasn’t featured for Southgate’s side since a 12-minute cameo against Iceland last September, the location of his antics with Phil Foden that saw them punished.
Patrick Bamford’s first call-up to the senior England squad will provide a “super opportunity” for the Leeds United player, says Three Lions boss Gareth Southgate.
“This is a super opportunity for Patrick – he’s been very close in our minds for the last few squads,” Southgate told John Murray on the Football Daily podcast.
“He’s had a fantastic couple of seasons with Leeds and is supremely well coached.”
Southgate reiterated how close the 27-year-old came to selection last season and says his first call up, for games against Hungary, Andorra and Poland, is a chance to impress.
“There was an opportunity for us in the forward areas,” said Southgate.
“We were very pleased with what Ollie Watkins did at the end of last season, and now is an opportunity for Patrick as a number nine as well. His progress with Leeds has been excellent, it was a very close thing at the end of the last season with us, and this is a good chance for him to come back in.”
🗣 “Chilwell hasn’t played since the Champions League final through no fault of his own. We were very pleased with what Ollie Watkins did and now is an opportunity for Patrick [Bamford].”
Gareth Southgate explains the reasoning behind his England squad selection pic.twitter.com/8KxVgbQp1Q
— Football Daily (@footballdaily) August 26, 2021
Southgate is personally pleased to be able to hand Bamford a first call up since the pair worked together several years ago.
“We worked with him at Under 21 level so we know him anyway, so a fabulous moment for him and his family,” added Southgate.
The youngster, who scored for the Red Devils in a 5-1 win over Leeds on the opening day of the season and would be considered one of Bamford’s direct rivals for an England spot, will be better served by remaining with his club on this occasion, Southgate said.
“Mason is in our thoughts,” he said.
“We’re all aligned, Mason, the club, his family and us. The best thing for him after these first few games is to stay with his club. It’s clear on his performances he’d warrant being in the squad.”
As pundit Gabby Agbonlahor suggests a fallout over the ‘ridiculous’ Patrick Bamford development at Leeds, what do you make of it all? Who would you swap in order to get Mason Greenwood in the England team if you think he’s even worthy of a place? Let us know via our socials.
🗣️ “I always believed it was going to happen!”
Patrick Bamford has his first call-up for England and he knew is was going to come eventually…#bbcfootball
— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) September 1, 2021
Here’s what fans said on Bamford’s call-up…
@miffy0811_a: We always believed it our paddy. Just go and smash it. Soooooooooo chuffed and proud
@ap_jeffrey: Good luck Pat. Go smash it lad 💪🏼🦁💙💛
@rico74leeds: Overdue but Southgate got there it the end, go smash it Pat👊⚽️🏴
@Katiehmusic11: What a great opportunity to do our nation proud
@Simon109668: It’s obvious how much it means to him. Anyone who’s not pleased for him is just a hard hearted tosser.
@DavidMatthews6: This guy has completely won me over. Such a decent, humble young man.
@bullyybeef: As someone that criticised him a lot a few years back, I couldn’t have been more wrong on a player. It’s absolutely 100% well deserved. He was the first to arrive at the camp this morning I hear too? Good luck Patrick.
@Chris_CD2010: Well deserved Patrick. We are all backing you!
@Mikey321619: Lord has finally arrived MOT
@Mandy1701: Our number 9 #mot
@rebekkarnold: So deserved 👏
@LS19RobLUFC: Our boy. A decent footballer and has something in abundance many lack; humility.
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