Patrick Bamford’s fading World Cup hopes appear all but over after Brentford striker Ivan Toney was called up to the England squad for the first time. Bamford revealed at the start of the season he still harboured hopes of a place on the plane to Qatar but a stop-start beginning to his campaign, coupled with the form of other English strikers, make it highly unlikely.
Speaking in July, he said: "I've got to concentrate on Leeds but I would be lying if I said the World Cup wasn't in the back of my mind, because obviously it's every kid's dream. But I know that there's a lot of hard work I've got to do to even put my name in the picture."
The Leeds United striker was handed his one and only Three Lions cap 12 months ago in a 4-0 win over Andorra at Wembley. Bamford was coming off the back of his best ever personal season as he netted 17 goals to help Leeds to a ninth-place finish in their first season back in the Premier League.
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He has, however, struggled desperately with injuries since then, allowing the likes of Tammy Abraham, Toney and potentially several others to have overtaken him in the pecking order. Abraham has been impressing in Serie A at Roma, while Toney has built on his sold debut campaign in the Premier League with five goals in his opening six matches, including a hattrick against Leeds.
Bamford will not only have to prove himself fitness wise, but he will also arguably have to go on the best scoring run of his career if he is to even have half a chance of making the World Cup squad.
Jack Harrison was also absent from Southgate's squad, despite the Leeds United winger's flying start to the campaign.
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