Patrick Bamford has reiterated his desire to play for England ahead of the Republic of Ireland.
The Leeds United striker is knocking on the door of a first senior cap for Gareth Southgate’s charges.
He scored his 100th career goal in Leeds’ recent win at Crystal Palace and Harry Kane and Dominic Calvert-Lewin are the only English strikers with more Premier League goals than him this season.
Bamford, 27, made one appearance for Ireland at Under-18 level and had been courted by Mick McCarthy.
But the former Ireland boss grew frustrated at the lack of a straight answer from the forward and stopped chasing him.
Bamford’s red-hot form sees him vying for inclusion in England’s World Cup qualifiers next month.
Ireland are not holding out any hope of a late change of mind and a line was drawn under the matter late last year when it was accepted that he wouldn’t be declaring.
And Bamford’s intentions have been rubber-stamped once again in an interview that the former Middlesbrough and Chelsea attacker gave today.
Bamford told the Mail on Sunday: “The idea of being selected for England is a dream.
“I thought about it before the last squad was announced and I didn’t sleep properly the night before because I was wondering whether it was going to happen or not.
“I’m probably a bit down the pecking order but I just have to keep doing my thing. If I got one England cap in the whole of my career, I’d be over the moon.”
Last November, Ireland boss Kenny was asked about Bamford and said: “I’ve an open mind but it’s been indicated that he has a desire to play for England.”
