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Stephen Kenny not hopeful over Patrick Bamford

:Headline: Stephen Kenny not hopeful over Patrick Bamford:
The striker represented Ireland at under-18 level.
Sports Mole

Stephen Kenny is not holding his breath in the hope that Leeds striker Patrick Bamford will change his mind and declare for the Republic of Ireland.

The 27-year-old scored 17 Premier League goals last season as the promoted Elland Road club sailed through their first campaign back in the top flight, in the process propelling himself to the fringes of the England squad before ultimately missing out on a place in Gareth Southgate's squad for the rescheduled Euro 2020 finals.

Bamford was capped by Ireland at under-18 level and has been courted previously, but amid suggestions fitness coach Damien Doyle – who worked with the player during their time together at MK Dons – might be able to persuade him to commit to the green shirt, Kenny appears to have moved on.

He said: "He was very close to being in contention, maybe, for England for the European Championship. It's not realistic to suggest that at the moment, I would feel.

"I think that was obviously his objective, to go to the European Championship with England.

"There's no doubt he's a very good player, a quality centre-forward, but we have to believe in the talent that we have. We have to work to improve it and get better.

"It's unusual for players to switch nationality – I'm not saying it never happens – so quickly after a situation of just being left out of a tournament. There are not many instances of that. Normally it's over a long period."

Golden Boot winner Harry Kane was the only Englishman to score more Premier League goals than Bamford last season, but asked if his disappointment at not being selected despite that achievement might prompt a change of heart, Kenny said: "I really don't know, I really don't know.

"He is a good player, but his objective was clearly to play for England, so I have to respect that."

Kenny will deploy what weapons he does have at his disposal in Thursday night's friendly against Andorra still awaiting the first win of his reign after 11 games in charge, and midfielder Conor Hourihane is desperate to change a narrative for which he insists he and his team-mates have to take the blame.

Hourihane said: "Hopefully a win comes sooner rather than later. That takes a little bit of the pressure off and people don't point it in your face all the time.

"But we've only got ourselves to blame from that point of view because we should have won games up to now, but that hasn't been the case."

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Premier League Table
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Leeds UnitedLeeds26158348192953
2Burnley26141023192252
3Sheffield UnitedSheff Utd26166436171952
4Sunderland26148439221750
5Middlesbrough26118743321141
6West Bromwich AlbionWest Brom26913432211140
7Blackburn RoversBlackburn2511682823539
8Bristol City2691073330337
9Watford25114103536-137
10Sheffield WednesdaySheff Weds2610793840-237
11Norwich CityNorwich269984337636
12Swansea CitySwansea2697103030034
13Queens Park RangersQPR2671182934-532
14Millwall257992423130
15Preston North EndPreston2661282834-630
16Coventry CityCoventry2678113437-329
17Oxford UnitedOxford Utd2577112840-1228
18Derby CountyDerby2676133135-427
19Stoke CityStoke2669112432-827
20Luton TownLuton2674152744-1725
21Portsmouth2458113041-1123
22Hull City2658132536-1123
23Cardiff CityCardiff2558122540-1523
24Plymouth ArgylePlymouth2548132453-2920
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