If Patrick Bamford drags his heels on representing Republic of Ireland any longer, current manager Mick McCarthy may not be around to coach him.
Since McCarthy returned to the fold with the nation in November he has regularly been asked about Leeds United’s number nine.
The 25-year-old qualifies for Ireland through a grandparent and given how remote an England call-up looks, McCarthy’s invite looks like his best route into the international arena.
However, after several conversations, McCarthy has now intimated he is growing tired with waiting and chasing the striker.
"I think Patrick has to give me a call," McCarthy told RTÉ Sport. "That’s the way it runs now, bearing in mind all the conversations I have had with him.
“I left it with him, ’if you’re ready to do it, give me a call’. I’ll wait for the call. The length of time it takes, I might be out of here before then.”
Bamford’s season, his first with United, was interrupted by two major knee injuries and the closing weeks were entirely focused on the club’s promotion push, which McCarthy acknowledged at the time.
The former Middlesbrough forward ended 2018/19 with 10 goals from 25 appearances in all competitions.
