:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/68979875/1231050807.0.jpg)
Leeds United pair Luke Ayling and Patrick Bamford could be named in the England squad that will play in three World Cup qualifiers at the end of the month, according to The Guardian.
Gareth Southgate will name his squad on Thursday, and is missing several players through injury ahead of matches against San Marino, Albania and Poland.
The England manager has attended a number of matches involving Leeds this season and has clearly been impressed by the impact Bamford and Ayling have had in the Premier League.
According to @guardian, Luke Ayling and Patrick Bamford are being considered for England:
— leedsunited_news (@leeds_utd_news) March 17, 2021
"Southgate will consider giving first call-ups to the Leeds pair, Luke Ayling and Patrick Bamford. Bamford is understood to be fit after a knock against Chelsea."#lufc #mot #alaw ⚪️
Former Chelsea striker Bamford, 27, has scored once for England at U19 level, and has been capped twice for the U21s. He has 13 goals so far in Leeds’ largely successful return to the top-flight.
Meanwhile, 29-year-old Ayling has never been in the international picture, having failed to make the ranks at Arsenal’s academy before enjoying the bulk of his career in the Football League.
The full-back has started in all of Leeds’ 28 league games so far this season, and has made the second-most tackles (76) in the division, one behind fellow right-back Aaron Wan-Bissaka. His ability to play in central defence will have also appealed to Southgate.
Jude Bellingham told he cannot travel to join up with England squad as Southgate ponders handing Leeds pair a call. By @DaveHytner https://t.co/FwcBU3IJUF
— Guardian sport (@guardian_sport) March 17, 2021
Both players face plenty of competition in their respective positions, but will hope that the level of opposition faced by England will provide them with an opportunity to make Three Lions debuts they likely never expected to happen.
And with Mateusz Klich receiving another call-up to the Poland squad, who wouldn’t love a club reunion in the final fixture of the upcoming international break?