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Micah Richards has revealed that fellow pundit Alan Shearer has told him he massively rates Leeds United striker Patrick Bamford.

Bamford, 27, has been one of the standout performers at Elland Road this season and has helped the Whites make a comfortable return to top-flight football.

The left-footed forward has already scored 11 goals and supplied six assists in 21 league games.

Shearer is the Premier League’s all-time leading goalscorer, which is why praise off him should be a real confidence boost for the Leeds frontman.

Richards has added that he’s also a big fan of the £10million (BBC) attacker, who he believes should receive his first call-up to the senior England squad.

“I spoke to Alan Shearer about him recently. Alan said he does need to become a bit more clinical but he really rates Bamford, as he offers something different,” Richards told the Daily Mail.

“Alan’s view backed up what I have been thinking for some time. Bamford has been brilliant for Leeds and 11 goals is excellent return at this stage of the season. I would have him in the England squad, 100 per cent. If he keeps progressing, Gareth Southgate may have him in there, too.”

TBR’s View:

Bamford represented England at youth level years ago, but has spent a lot of his career developing and maturing in the Championship.

He’s now getting his first real crack at Premier League football with consistent starts, something he didn’t get in spells with Middlesbrough, Norwich City, Crystal Palace and Burnley.

His finishing is improving, something he showed with a lethal finish in the recent win over Leicester City.

But his overall game on top of that is so vital to the way Leeds play and there can’t be many strikers in the division that exert the same amount of energy as him.