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England World Cup squad: Ross Barkley's journey from adversity to Rio England World Cup squad: Ross Barkley's journey from adversity to Rio
(about 2 hours later)
Ross Barkley would make two bus journeys to get from his Wavertree home to Everton's former youth academy in Netherton five years ago. Now he is on the plane to Brazil as potentially the most captivating member of England's World Cup squad. The rise would faze most 20-year-olds, but not Barkley. His has been the hard route to the top. He will know that he belongs. Ross Barkley would make two bus journeys to get from his Wavertree home to Everton's former youth academy in Netherton five years ago. Now he is on the plane to Brazil as potentially the most captivating member of England's World Cup squad. The rise would faze most 20-year-olds but not Barkley. His has been the hard route to the top. He will know that he belongs.
Roberto Martínez described the Everton midfielder as the "best young English talent I've seen" following his commanding performance in front of Roy Hodgson and Ray Lewington against Manchester City 10 days ago. The Everton manager also believes he is among the most grounded, and enthused shareholders at the club's recent general meeting with a tale of how Barkley approached him after training one day to stress how much he loves playing for his boyhood team. Roberto Martínez described the Everton midfielder as the "best young English talent I've seen" following his commanding performance in front of Roy Hodgson and Ray Lewington against Manchester City 10 days ago. The Everton manager also believes he is among the most grounded and he enthused shareholders at the club's recent general meeting with a tale of how Barkley approached him after training one day to stress how much he loves playing for his boyhood team.
Examples of his down to earth nature are plentiful. After those training sessions in Netherton, and faced with the prospect of another hour-long journey home, Barkley would occasionally be offered a lift by the parents of a fellow Everton academy player. They drove a Bentley. "I'd usually say no because I was too embarrassed," he admitted. More often he would fall asleep on the bus, miss his stop and have to run home. Everton eventually started to provide taxis. Examples of his down-to-earth nature are plentiful. After those training sessions in Netherton, and faced with the prospect of another hour-long journey home, Barkley would occasionally be offered a lift by the parents of a fellow Everton academy player. They drove a Bentley. "I'd usually say no because I was too embarrassed," he admitted. More often he would fall asleep on the bus, miss his stop and have to run home. Everton eventually started to provide taxis.
An engaging character does not disguise the fierce ambition that burns in Barkley, however. At 16 he suffered a triple fracture of a leg playing for England Under-19s in a European Championship qualifier against Belgium. The injury set his career back years, devastated the former Everton manager David Moyes and, according to doctors in Belgium, signalled the end. Barkley's initial disappointment was that he had not broken Wayne Rooney's record as Everton's youngest player, having come close with four unused substitute appearances before injury struck. An engaging character does not disguise the fierce ambition that burns in Barkley, however. At 16 he suffered a triple fracture of a leg playing for England Under-19s in a European Championship qualifier against Belgium. The injury set his development back, devastated the former Everton manager David Moyes and, according to doctors in Belgium, signalled the end. Barkley's initial disappointment was that he had not broken Wayne Rooney's record as Everton's youngest player, having come close with four unused substitute appearances before injury struck.
After four starts for Everton this season came a full England debut in the World Cup qualifier against Moldova. Barkley produced a hugely promising display but again lingered on what might have been after a shot sailed narrowly wide at Wembley. "I was gutted it didn't go in," he said, but came away with a clear ambition for the remainder of the campaign. "I've set my sights on the World Cup," the midfielder added. "For the first two days I was a bit starstruck looking at Lampard and Gerrard but being around Jags (Phil Jagielka) and Bainesy, they got me involved, and after the first few days it felt as though I was meant to be there."After four starts for Everton this season came a full England debut in the World Cup qualifier against Moldova. Barkley produced a hugely promising display but again lingered on what might have been after a shot sailed narrowly wide at Wembley. "I was gutted it didn't go in," he said, but came away with a clear ambition for the remainder of the campaign. "I've set my sights on the World Cup," the midfielder added. "For the first two days I was a bit starstruck looking at Lampard and Gerrard but being around Jags (Phil Jagielka) and Bainesy, they got me involved, and after the first few days it felt as though I was meant to be there."
Dealing with a devastating injury prepared Barkley mentally for the pressures of the Premier League, although he was frustrated to be removed from the first-team picture by Moyes after a mistake at Blackburn Rovers in 2011 and sent on loan to Sheffield Wednesday and Leeds United. Under Martínez, however, he has begun to realise the expectations that Moyes and Everton's academy coaches always held for the powerful, intuitive talent.Dealing with a devastating injury prepared Barkley mentally for the pressures of the Premier League, although he was frustrated to be removed from the first-team picture by Moyes after a mistake at Blackburn Rovers in 2011 and sent on loan to Sheffield Wednesday and Leeds United. Under Martínez, however, he has begun to realise the expectations that Moyes and Everton's academy coaches always held for the powerful, intuitive talent.
Everton's manager showed confidence from day one and was repaid with a fine goal from the midfielder at Norwich City on the opening day of the season. His belief in Everton's youngsters is also reflected in John Stones' place on England's stand-by list for the World Cup. Crucially, and this is where Hodgson and England need to tread carefully with a prospect who has had just one full season in the Premier League, Martínez has allowed Barkley to make mistakes. Everton's manager showed confidence from day one and was repaid with a fine goal from the midfielder at Norwich City on the opening day of the season. His belief in Everton's youngsters is also reflected in John Stones' place on England's stand-by list for the World Cup. Crucially, and this is where Hodgson and England need to tread carefully with a prospect who has had only one full season in the Premier League, Martínez has allowed Barkley to make mistakes.
With James McCarthy and Gareth Barry forming a reliable shield behind him, Barkley has been given licence by the Everton manager to attempt his twists, runs and incisive passes deep in opposition territory. They do not always succeed but Martínez has always encouraged more. The benefits were illustrated perfectly against City when, beyond striking a magnificent first-time shot over Joe Hart to open the scoring, the improvement in Barkley's passing range and decision-making was also marked.With James McCarthy and Gareth Barry forming a reliable shield behind him, Barkley has been given licence by the Everton manager to attempt his twists, runs and incisive passes deep in opposition territory. They do not always succeed but Martínez has always encouraged more. The benefits were illustrated perfectly against City when, beyond striking a magnificent first-time shot over Joe Hart to open the scoring, the improvement in Barkley's passing range and decision-making was also marked.
"Ross is a star already," says Martínez. "It is about how you use it. I have experimented with him in different positions and at times those have to be cut short and he accepts that." Everton have scheduled talks on a new contract for Barkley this summer and the manager, you suspect, would not have been too upset had the World Cup passed the midfielder by and he recuperated away from the spotlight. Now it is a question of harnessing a precocious talent and handling expectations. "Ross is a star already," says Martínez. "It is about how you use it. I have experimented with him in different positions and at times those have to be cut short and he accepts that." Everton have scheduled talks on a new contract for Barkley this summer and the manager, one suspects, would not have been too upset had the World Cup passed the midfielder by and he recuperated away from the spotlight. Now it is a question of harnessing a precocious talent and handling expectations.
"I don't think there is another English player that can do what Ross does," Martínez added. "Will we expect to win the World Cup because of Ross Barkley? No. That is what we need to be clear on. He has the potential to be one of the best midfielders in world football at the age of 25, 26, 27, but not now. "I don't think there is another English player that can do what Ross does," Martínez added. "Will we expect to win the World Cup because of Ross Barkley? No. That is what we need to be clear on. He has the potential to be one of the best midfielders in world football at the age of 25, 26, 27 but not now.
"If the role in the World Cup is to carry England, that is not Ross Barkley. But if it is to have someone that is ready to help the team and will be ready mentally, then yes he has that character. We need to be more sensible than to say Ross Barkley is the man who can win the World Cup for England. We need to protect a young man who, for me, is the best young English talent I've seen and worked with. I hope we can fulfil his potential and give him what he needs over the years.""If the role in the World Cup is to carry England, that is not Ross Barkley. But if it is to have someone that is ready to help the team and will be ready mentally, then yes he has that character. We need to be more sensible than to say Ross Barkley is the man who can win the World Cup for England. We need to protect a young man who, for me, is the best young English talent I've seen and worked with. I hope we can fulfil his potential and give him what he needs over the years."