Bamford and McCarthy set for Ireland talks

MICK McCARTHY has revealed that Patrick Bamford has made contact with him to arrange a meeting about the Leeds striker’s international future.

McCarthy indicated last week that he was frustrated by aborted attempts to set up a chat with Bamford, who is back fit and in form for the Championship promotion chasers.

The Ireland manager told the FAI’s website that he had been in touch with the 25-year-old over the weekend after he registered a brace in Friday’s thrashing of West Brom.

“We’ve exchanged text messages and Patrick is keen to meet up in the coming weeks so it is just a matter of him finding a date that works – I’ll happily meet him whenever he can do it,” said McCarthy.

Bamford would have to go through a paperwork process to switch allegiance from England.

McCarthy confirmed that Dutchbased playmaker Daniel Crowley is currently going through that procedure after making clear that his future lies with Ireland.

“Noel King (head of recruitment) brought him to my attention when I got the job and will have a look at Danny with Willem ll before I go to see him for myself when he plays against Ajax in the Dutch Cup final on May 5,” he added.

McCarthy was happy with Seamus Coleman’s ‘assured’ performance for Everton in the Merseyside derby yesterday.

The Ireland skipper told Off The Ball after the match that he was ‘massively disappointed’ by Declan Rice’s decision to declare for England.