With the latest international break currently in full flow, there is still an obvious exclusion from the latest England squad.
That man is Leeds United frontman Patrick Bamford.
The former Crystal Palace loanee has enjoyed a tremendous season in front of goal in the Premier League, scoring 14 goals and providing seven assists for Marcelo Bielsa’s men – form which has seen Clinton Morrison label the striker as “unplayable”.
Who is going to win the PL Golden Boot?
Harry Kane
Mo Salah
Bruno Fernandes
Patrick Bamford
Whilst Leeds will be thrilled with Bamford’s lethal goalscoring touch throughout the 2020/21 season, Palace will be tinged with slight disappointment having seen the striker flop miserably in a period at Selhurst Park, especially considering that two of his goals this term have come against Roy Hodgson’s men.
Joining on loan from Chelsea in 2015, the then-21-year-old was fresh off the back of a stunning season in the Championship, having plundered 17 goals with Middlesbrough and also scooping the division’s Player of the Year award.
He displayed no such form for the Eagles, though, with Bamford’s only contribution in a Palace shirt being a solitary assist in a 4-1 League Cup thumping of Charlton Athletic.
In all, the striker made just nine poor performances for Palace in a miserable five months at Selhurst Park before he was recalled by parent club Chelsea, then subsequently joining fellow Premier League outfit Norwich City on another temporary deal. He also made another seven appearances in Norfolk, once again failing to get on the scoresheet.
To Bamford’s credit, he was only afforded four starts in all competitions across those two loan spells, so his talent might not have been fully justified by his performances.
Now, with the Leeds striker firmly in the conversation for England recognition due to a spectacular season, Palace might well be frustrated that they did not spot that potential whilst he was donning an Eagles shirt.
AND in more news, read about which Championship starlet is apparently interesting Steve Parish…