Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
SOUTHGATE’S SET TO PLAY A NEW TRICK
PATRICK BAMFORD is in line for a Three Lions call-up with England facing a chaotic build-up to their World Cup qualifiers.
The Leeds striker, 27, has impressed Gareth Southgate during his many visits to Elland
Road this season.
Bamford’s club have given him the all-clear to join up despite suffering a dead leg and limping off against Chelsea last weekend.
The former England Under-21 striker (above), who has scored 13 goals this campaign, may get the nod with Danny Ings and Tammy Abraham both injured.
Southgate (right) is facing a catalogue of absentees but could name three centreforwards with Harry Kane and Dominic Calvertlewin also set to be included to face San Marino, Albania and Poland later this month.
But the Three Lions boss faces difficult dilemmas all over the pitch while coronavirus protocols are also making the selections even more difficult.
England are likely to be without Borussia Dortmund’s Jude Bellingham, 17, because he would face a 10-day quarantine in Germany on his return.
The FA may still name him because the situation in Germany is changing, although Dortmund are now facing a local lockdown and quarantines. That is a blow because Bellingham (below) is seen as a huge talent by Southgate and is almost certain to be in the Euros squad.
Clubs are allowed to block international call-ups if their players are subject to quarantine after playing for their countries and that has caused chaos for Poland.
They could be without their THREE best players as Bayern Munich superstar Robert Lewandowski is unlikely to be allowed to travel while there is also doubt about Marseille’s Arkadiusz Milik and Hertha Berlin’s Krzysztof Piatek.
England are confident Kieran Trippier will be available from Atletico Madrid but Southgate will have to take a roll call before naming his squad this afternoon.
He is already without Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson, No.1 keeper Jordan Pickford plus Leicester duo James Maddison and Harvey Barnes.
Arsenal’s Bukayo Saka is a fitness doubt while Aston Villa’s Jack
Grealish is only just on the way back after being sidelined for five games.
Southgate may name an enlarged squad in the expectation of injuries, but it seems certain there will be recalls for John Stones, Luke Shaw and possibly Jesse Lingard.
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