Controversial international changes seem to be all the rage at the moment and Leeds United's Patrick Bamford has been tipped to make one if he fails to get his England wish.
Jack Grealish infamously decided to ditch the Republic of Ireland for England but is now enduring a rough time of breaking into Gareth Southgate's squad as a result.
Bamford, meanwhile, wasn't really even on the England international radar until the striker scored seven goals in eight Premier League games for Leeds to start this season. The forward has earned rave reviews across the board in the last few months and the clamouring for him to make his England debut has increased.
However, Crystal Palace winger Andros Townsend believes that Bamford, who could do the opposite of Grealish and switch to Republic of Ireland, may be forced to change his international mind if he doesn't land a chance with England in the next 12-18 months.
“Patrick Bamford, he has been on a hell of a journey,” Townsend told ITV. “He’s only young but he’s been a journeyman, like myself, he has been out on a lot of loans. Some have suited him and some haven’t.
“But he has found this guy in Bielsa. He loves players who work hard, first and foremost and have the quality after.
"Bamford’s got that in abundance. The thing that impressed me on Saturday was how well he took his goal and his offside goal. How well he took those two strikes. Clinical, clinical finishes.
“Unless there are one or two injuries, he’s probably just below the players who are currently in the England squad. But if he keeps that going and keeps scoring goals, like Ings proved last season, then he’s definitely going to be in with a shout with an England call-up sooner rather than later."
On the prospect of Bamford playing for the Republic of Ireland, Townsend also added his view.
"100%, [he can play for the Republic of Ireland now]. But the form he is in and the goals he is scoring, he can see an England call-up in the future if he continues.
"So, 100% this season I don’t think he will switch over to Ireland. But if it doesn’t come in the next year to 18 months then maybe his form does dip then I am sure he will make that switch to Ireland.”
