Bamford joins Young Lions

17 November 2013 18:16

MK Dons' on-loan Chelsea striker Patrick Bamford has been called up to the England Under-21 squad to face San Marino on Tuesday as a replacement for Saido Berahino.

Bamford steps in for Berahino who is suspended for the match at Shrewsbury after he was booked during Tuesday's 3-0 win over Finland.

The 21-year-old West Brom striker was rather harshly shown a yellow card after he revealed a shirt following the first of his two goals with 'RIP Love U Dad' scrawled on it in tribute to his father, who was one of the estimated 300,000 killed in the civil war that plagued Burundi.

Berahino has been in superb form for the Young Lions this season, scoring four goals in six appearances for Gareth Southgate's team and seeing himself linked with a call-up to Roy Hodgson's full England squad, but he has now returned to West Brom.

It gives a chance for Bamford to shine for his country after scoring 12 goals in 20 appearances for Sky Bet League One club MK Dons this season.

Southgate will also be without Wigan's on-loan Manchester United forward Nick Powell, who will stay at the DW Stadium for treatment on an injury which meant he did not report last week.

Forward Will Keane has gone back to train with Manchester United after spending the last week with Southgate's squad following his return to fitness.

Source: PA