TalkSPORT pundit blasts 'football snobbery' that is undermining Leeds United player's efforts

QPR striker Charlie Austin has argued that “football snobbery” has prevented Leeds United striker Patrick Bamford from winning a call-up for England’s upcoming World Cup qualifiers.
Patrick Bamford of Leeds United. (Photo by Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images)Patrick Bamford of Leeds United. (Photo by Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images)
Patrick Bamford of Leeds United. (Photo by Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images)

The Elland Road forward has been in red-hot form this season, and has already scored 14 goals in 29 Premier League matches – assisting seven more.

Despite Bamford’s prolific output, however, Gareth Southgate has instead opted to hand a first squad inclusion to Aston Villa hitman Ollie Watkins, who has scored 10 times in 28 top flight matches this term.

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Tottenham Hotspur's Harry Kane and Everton’s Dominic Calvert-Lewin are the Three Lions’ other central striking options for their matches against San Marino, Albania, and Poland.

But Austin is of the opinion that Bamford should have been called up – and perhaps might have been had he played for a different club.

Reflecting back on his own England disappointment during the 2014/15 campaign – in which he scored 18 goals for relegated QPR – the talkSPORT pundit said: “I was fourth-top scorer in the Premier League for a team that got relegated.

"Alexis Sanchez, Diego Costa, and Sergio Aguero were above me, which speaks volumes.

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"It goes against a lot of people. It’s going against Patrick Bamford right now.

"That’s football snobbery. That’s just the way it is. Sometimes the face don’t fit. I know people will be saying, ‘Oh look, it’s not’, but that is the be all and end all.

"Look at Bamford, what has he done not to be called up?

"Eric Dier’s been called up, yeah? Has he done enough to be called up, or are you calling him up because he plays for Tottenham?”