Ally McCoist says he does not have a problem with Gareth Southgate calling up Aston Villa striker Ollie Watkins ahead of Leeds United’s Patrick Bamford.
Bamford narrowly missed out on selection for England’s upcoming World Cup qualifiers against San Marino, Albania and Poland on Thursday.
The Leeds striker has been in brilliant form this season, contributing 13 goals and five assists in the Premier League for Marcelo Bielsa’s side.
Southgate admitted it was a close call between Bamford and Watkins, who has netted 10 top-flight goals for Villa this season, and that the Leeds man was “very unfortunate” to miss out.
Leeds fans reacted angrily to the news, but former Rangers striker McCoist says that the England manager’s call is a fair one.
“I was a little bit surprised but I don’t have a problem with him bringing somebody like Watkins in,” he told talkSPORT.
“You can make a case for Bamford being more deserving but equally Watkins is deserving of an opportunity as well.
“As disappointed as Bamford may be, I don’t have a problem with it.”
Announcing his squad, which included Kalvin Phillips but had no room for Luke Ayling, Southgate suggested Bamford could be selected in the future.
"Both Ollie and Patrick in particular, their goal record has been good, and we like the personalities of both of them,” he said.
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"Ollie is a player we've had less interaction with in the past, it's going to be good to get to know him.
"We like his pressing, we like his speed and runs in behind, he's got some improvements to make in linking the game but, for his first season in the Premier League and at a big club, he's done exceptionally well.
"It was a really close call because all of the things I said there about Ollie, I could have said about Patrick as well.
"He's very unfortunate and who knows? We could be sitting here in a few days time, having had a problem, and Patrick's a player we're very much looking at as well."
England play San Marino on Wednesday, before ties against Albania on Sunday and Poland on March 31.
