Mick McCarthy is no longer interested in trying to get Leeds United striker Patrick Bamford to play for the Republic of Ireland.
Speaking in March, McCarthy confirmed that Bamford, 25, had agreed to represent Ireland despite previously playing for England at Under-21 level.
However the former Wolves and Sunderland boss now appears to have given up on the Leeds striker, suggesting that he is not responding to his calls.
“I’m not going chasing anymore,” McCarthy said, as quoted by the Times. “It was left on the back burner and I think that it’s up to Patrick. If he wants to play, he’s got to pick up the phone.
“Let me ask a question. If you are an Irish player and you thought that you were good enough to play for Ireland what would you do? They’d pick up the phone.”
OPINION
Bamford does not seem as though he wants to play for the Republic of Ireland, which is odd because he has a very slim chance of ever playing for England and playing for McCarthy’s side might be the best chance he ever gets at playing international football. Ireland might be able to qualify for the European Championships next summer and if they make some improvements in the next few years they could even reach the World Cup within Bamford’s career. That may be wishful thinking, but it still could happen. Why Bamford wouldn’t want to play for them is a mystery, unless he believes that he shouldn’t play for them because he feels he shouldn’t due to his allegiance with England. McCarthy is a Yorkshireman who played for Ireland in his career and is now managing them, so he might be the best man to talk to if this is his issue.