'My mates are winding me up' - Leeds United striker Patrick Bamford sets target assessing prospects of England call

Bamford's Whites team mate Kalvin Phillips has become the club's first England international since Alan Smith in 2004 with the Whites midfielder having quickly amassed three caps in Nations League clashes against Denmark and Belgium either side of a friendly against Wales.

Bamford, meanwhile, admits that scoring three goals in United's first three Premier League games led to his mates winding him up by suggesting that a call from Three Lions boss Gareth Southgate would be imminent for himself.

Bamford has never bagged a senior England call but the striker has been capped for the Three Lions at under-18s, 19s and 21s level with the striker's last outing for England's under-21s coming off the bench in a 3-1 win at home to Portugal back in November 2014.

Southgate was then England's under-21s boss with Bamford also playing for England's under-21s as a second-half substitute in a 9-0 romp at home to San Marino in November 2013 in which now fully established Three Lions internationals Raheem Sterling and Danny Ings both bagged braces.

Seven years later, 27-year-old Bamford is now facing questions about the prospects of a first ever senior call but the striker says any realistic prospect of sealing "a dream come true" would only be possible if once again hitting the goal trail in United's next four games.

Leeds are back in action next Monday night at home to Wolves with Marcelo Bielsa's side then facing a Friday night trip to Aston Villa.

Another Monday night date at home to Leicester City is next before the Whites sign off for another two-week break with a trip to Crystal Palace on Saturday, November 7.

England, meanwhile, have another three internationals on the agenda in November with Southgate's side hosting a friendly against New Zealand on Thursday, November 12 before taking in two more Nations League clashes - away against Belgium on Sunday, November 15 and then at home to Iceland four days later.

"Do you know what? I don't want to think about it," said Bamford, asked about the possibility of receiving an England call on LUTV.

"Obviously it would be a dream come true but my mates are kind of winding me up saying you are going to get called up.

"I was like 'they can't call me up just for scoring three goals' so, for me, I've got to try and replicate what I have done in those first three games over these next four games and then hopefully fingers crossed we will see what happens in November."

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Thank you Laura Collins