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Leeds United duo in line for England callup

Gareth Southgate has watched a number of matches involving the Whites this season, and has clearly been impressed by the club’s English stars.

Leeds United v Crystal Palace - Premier League - Elland Road
Luke Ayling and Patrick Bamford are looking to join Kalvin Phillips in the England squad
Photo by Jon Super/PA Images via Getty Images

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.

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.

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?