In recent news, Troy Deeney has completely shut down any talk of Leeds United striker Patrick Bamford being a suitable replacement for England captain Harry Kane.
That is after some suggestions that Bamford may be in line to stake a claim, despite his form waning and injuries.
Deeney, known for his outspoken views, wasn’t shy in giving his opinion on the matter during a talkSPORT interview.
Harry Kane’s England Journey
In the summer of 2023, Kane departed from England for a leading role at Bayern Munich, recently celebrating earning his 100th cap for England.
Kane, now already one of the all-time greats to wear an England shirt in terms of goal scoring records, has not stopped hitting new milestones even after he left to go and play in Germany.
He scored two goals in his milestone game as England beat Finland, cementing his place in England’s football history.
Kane has not been flawless in his performances, however, and doubts have arisen amongst fans and pundits over whether England needs to move on from him as a striker, especially after Euro 2024.
However, replacing someone like Kane is easier said than done and when the name of Patrick Bamford was thrown into conversation it caused some debate.
Patrick Bamford: Five Years Too Late?
Patrick Bamford has had a tough time lately at Leeds United. Despite once being one of the hottest English strikers, injuries have plagued his career.
He even made one appearance for England during a World Cup qualifier with Andorra but he has been unable to force his way back in.
That bantered notion about Bamford taking over from Kane is definitely not the case!
Deeney reflected on how five years ago it would probably be a conversation, but Bamford is now 31 and seems to have trouble staying fit so Deeney couldn’t see Bamford being able to play in this key role.
He said, “Patrick Bamford, such a lovely kid, but he can’t stay fit.”
Other Names Mentioned
Strikers like Jamie Vardy were mentioned alongside Bamford.
Vardy, now 37 and retired from international football but still playing an important role in helping Leicester City secure a Premier League recently, but even his name seemed a bit out of place in the discussion.
Deeney did not hold back and highlighted that these players have been spoken of years ago, Not anymore.
He stressed that England should be looking forward, not backwards, when choosing Kane’s successor.
Instead, Deeney suggested Ivan Toney would be a more realistic choice and offer England something different.
Leeds United’s Struggles
Leeds United, where Bamford plays, have also not had the greatest of years.
Relegated from the Premier League, they failed to go back through missing out on promotion in a play-off final defeat against Southampton.
That Bamford has failed to remain injury-free is one thing that must be counted against Leeds.
One thing has been for certain, and fans have had reasonable cause to be frustrated over their team’s performances with Bamford not at full fitness.
While Bamford once looked like a promising talent for England, it seems his chance to shine at the national level may have passed.
With players like Ollie Watkins, who has continued to improve, Bamford’s spot in the squad looks further away than ever.
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