Barry risks more Villa fan fury as he backs Heskey's Midlands exit strategy

12 October 2009 18:11
England midfielder Gareth Barry admits he sympathises with Emile Heskey's situation at Aston Villa after leaving the club himself in the summer. While Barry's move to Manchester City was for a new challenge, Heskey has concerns over his place in England's World Cup squad if he is not getting regular football at Villa Park, which could lead to a January departure. Barry is fully aware of the intense competition for places in Fabio Capello's squad after establishing himself in the Italian's first-choice starting XI but getting left on the bench for the defeat to Ukraine on Saturday. 'The World Cup is in the back of everyone's mind so I can understand where Emile is coming from,' Barry said. 'It's not just Emile, it's that time of year when you want to be playing regularly. 'He has his place in the England team at the moment and won't want anything to change that. Playing regularly for your club can help you cement a place in the England squad.' Heskey is normally one of Capello's automatic choices but the England boss tends to leave out players who are not featuring regularly in the Barclays Premier League. 'He's struck a great partnership with Wayne Rooney in the qualifying campaign,' Barry said. 'His work-rate and the way he plays for the team is second to none. Wayne and the other attacking midfielders have thrived playing off him. He's a big part of the England team.' Barry is desperate to make an impression against Belarus on Wednesday when England wrap up their qualifying campaign. Last week he was left out of the team in Dnipropetrovsk and five days before that endured a hostile reception from Villa fans he left in the summer when he returned to his old club with City. According to Barry, City players are braced for jeers from fans after the changes at the club that has seen them among the top spenders in the world. Joleon Lescott was even booed by England fans on his last appearance at Wembley. 'We've spoken about it among ourselves at City this season,' Barry said. 'People outside of the club may look at us in a different way and it is something the players, including myself, can deal with. It's important that we don't let it affect us. 'Anyone would be lying if they said they don't want a good reception when they go back to their old club. I have a lot of friends in Birmingham so it was something that I was expecting - a mixed reception if you like. 'It was another learning curve and another experience for myself. You can learn from these and still improve.' Barry is hoping to get himself back in Capello's starting XI at Wembley, then to finish the qualifying campaign on a high. 'You want to play in every game and when you are left out it increases your hunger to get back in,' he said. 'I'll work hard and try to make the next team. 'Every player knows competition is very high and in World Cup year it goes up another level. When the team was named it wasn't a case of me dropping my head. 'It's World Cup year and people are talking about the squad already. It's a few months away but in the back of the players' minds you want to be there so there is a lot of hard work ahead and you want to maintain form over the season and make sure your name is there.' He added: 'The buzz is still in the camp. It's the last game of the campaign and in front of our own fans. We want to put in a good performance, get a victory and celebrate in front of our own fans. We want to take confidence from that to the World Cup.'

Source: Daily_Mail