Charlie Austin slams “football snobbery” after Bamford’s England snub

Charlie Austin has said he believes that the non-selection of Leeds United forward Patrick Bamford in the current England squad is down to “football snobbery”.

The QPR forward, who scored 18 Premier League goals for the R’s during the 2014/15 season, was speaking to talkSPORT about his own experiences of not winning an England cap despite his goalscoring exploits.

Austin claimed that had Bamford been playing for a top half side, he would have been selected.

Leeds currently sit in 11th place in the Premier League.

When asked whether he believed that had he himself played for a bigger club, he would have won a cap, Austin replied: “Correct. I think that goes against a lot of people.”

He then claimed: “That’s going against Patrick Bamford right now. That’s football snobbery – that’s just the way it is.”

No England cap still “disappoints” Austin

Austin was called up to the England squad in May 2015, but did not play in either of the games against Republic of Ireland and Slovenia.

Only three strikers – Austin, Jamie Vardy and Wayne Rooney – were included in the squad. Danny Welbeck had earlier pulled out due to injury.

The 31-year-old says the decision of manager Roy Hodgson not to bring him on still “disappoints” him.

He explained: “That still hurts me and disappoints me.

“I scored 18 Premier League goals for a QPR team that got relegated.

“To be rewarded with an England call-up was great, but to be rewarded with an England cap would have capped off an incredible year for me personally.

“It just wasn’t meant to be. That’s probably one regret I have in my career.

“I’ve not spoken to Roy Hodgson since. You have big decisions to make as England boss.”

Austin returned to current club QPR on loan from West Bromwich Albion in January. He has scored six goals in 15 Championship appearances for Mark Warburton’s side.

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