Leeds United news: Whelan reacts as Bamford speaks of England chances

Noel Whelan believes Leeds United striker Patrick Bamford faces too much competition to earn a shock England call-up.

Speaking exclusively to Football Insider correspondent Dylan Childs, the former Leeds striker and boyhood Whites fan delivered his verdict after the 27-year-old addressed the possibility of playing for his country.

Bamford told LUTV: “I don’t want to think about it. Obviously it would be a dream come true but my mates have been winding me up about it saying I’m going to get called up.”

The striker has got off to an impressive start to the Premier League season scoring three goals and providing two assists in four games for the Yorkshire giants.

But an England call-up would still count as a major surprise given a big section of Leeds fans were regularly demanding he be dropped last season as well as his lack of Premier League experience.

Asked by Football Insider what he thinks of Bamford’s international prospects, Whelan said: “Look, I think there’s too much competition.

“It’s great that he’s getting recognised. He maybe thinks he might be able to get in there because you’ve got to stay positive as a striker.

“You’ve got Danny Ings in there who had a great season last year.

“You’ve got Jamie Vardy who’s retired but who knows what can happen if he keeps knocking on the door, he might fancy another go at it with the Euros. You can never say never in football.

“Then you’ve got the likes of (Harry) Kane.

“You’ve got the likes of (Dominic) Calvert-Lewin who is stepping up at a great age as well really finding his form and becoming that player we thought he might do and now he’s progressed under Ancelotti.

“You can see with the goals the confidence and the all-round striker in him now. He looks a lot stronger, a lot fitter, a lot hungrier and is hitting the back of the net which is what you want as a striker.

“I think it’s a tall order for Patrick Bamford to get a call-up for England, to be quite honest with you. I just want him to keep banging the goals in for Leeds and then you never know.”

In other Leeds United news, Football Insider can exclusively REVEAL that the Whites are working on signing a Derby County sensation in a beat-the-deadline deal.