Patrick Bamford has finally ended the Republic of Ireland’s lingering hopes he might switch his international allegiance to them.
The Leeds striker qualifies for the Irish through a grandparent and won one Under-18 cap for the Republic in 2010.
Former Republic bosses Martin O’Neill and Mick McCarthy tried to persuade Bamford to turn his back on England and play for them.
Bamford, 27, narrowly missed out on a first Three Lions call up from Gareth Southgate and Republic boss Stephen Kenny had put out feelers to him as he tries to end their miserable run of seven games without scoring.
Kenny was told Bamford did not want to represent the Irish because his goal is to play for England.
“He said that he wouldn’t like to stand in the way of another Irishman,” said Kenny.
“He said he wouldn’t want to do that, that his desire is to play for England.
“I never actually got to speak to him because he said that his ambition was to play for England.”
Bamford has played for England at Under-18, Under-19 and Under-21 level and Southgate named him in his preliminary squad for the 2015 Under-21 European Championships before he pulled out injured.
Bamford is in the form of his life, having scored 14 goals and contributed six assists in the Premier League for Leeds, and still believes he can gatecrash Southgate’s squad for the Euros this summer.
“I’ve just got to keep doing what I’m doing and see if I can put my name in contention for the Euros,” he said.
“It is in the back of my mind a little bit and it gives you a little bit of extra fire in your belly.”
