QPR striker Charlie Austin says there's no reason why Leeds United centre-forward Patrick Bamford shouldn't be in the England squad this week.

Austin has questioned Gareth Southgate's decision to call up Ollie Watkins over Bamford and challenged England's selection policy by claiming players are more likely to be chosen if they represent a bigger club.

The on-loan West Brom striker says he empathises with the Leeds striker as he insists his England experience "still hurts and disappoints" him.

He told TalkSPORT: "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.

When asked if playing for a Premier League would have boosted his chances on the international stage, he said: 'Correct. I think that goes against a lot of people.

"That's going against Patrick Bamford right now, because that's football snobbery. It's just the way it is. Sometimes faces don't fit.

"It was only me and Jamie (Vardy) there that was fit, because you had the Under-21 Championships going on. There was no one really else."

Austin is adamant that "football snobbery" still exists today and says it can be evidenced in Southgate's England squad.

He said: "It's tough to say. What has he done not to be called up?

"There is (favouritism to bigger clubs). Eric Dier has been called up, has he done enough to be called up? Or are you calling him up because he plays for Tottenham?"