Pundit baffled by ‘ridiculous’ Bamford development at Leeds
Gabby Agbonlahor has claimed it is “ridiculous” Leeds United striker Patrick Bamford has earned an England call-up ahead of Mason Greenwood.
Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, the ex-Aston Villa and England attacker suggested “something’s gone on” between Greenwood and Gareth Southgate.
England confirmed their 25-man squad for the games against Hungary and Andorra last week (26 August) as Bamford earned his first call up.
The Leeds star scored 17 times in the Premier League last season – Kane was the only Englishman who found the net more often.
Asked for his assessment of Bamford being given the nod ahead of Greenwood, Agbonlahor told Football Insider correspondent Connor Whitley: “I think it’s ridiculous.
“You look at both strikers and it’s no competition, for me. Bamford is a really good player, but he doesn’t offer you what Greenwood offers.
“Greenwood is the best finisher that England have available after Harry Kane. But Kane isn’t in form at the moment, he’s not fit at the moment. For me, Greenwood would be starting these qualifiers, never mind not being in the squad.
“Something’s happened there behind the scenes, something’s going on with Gareth Southgate. He’s going back to leaving his star players out, like when he left Jack Grealish out for a while.
“It just doesn’t make sense to me. Greenwood should be in that squad, guaranteed.
“The talk of him being the future, he’s not the future he’s the present. I don’t understand it, to be honest.”
Greenwood, 19, has just one England cap to his name.
He has not featured for Southgate’s side since a 12-minute cameo against Iceland last September.
In other news, Leeds United could sell a 29-year-old in January as transfer news confirmed.