Exciting England prospect starts decreasing after West Brom transfer.
Unlucky, injured day-to-day or have just lost the touch. Looking at forgotten footballers who were at top, but made to ruin chances in front of spotlights.
Born in London, this promising youngster signed with Derby County on his 17th birthday. Quickly establishing himself in England u19 squad thereafter, we take a look at nippy and provocative Giles Barnes.
Moving onto the senior squad of this Championship side, much was expected of Barnes who immediately got to feature in a 2005 League Cup home match against Grimsby Town. The Jamaican was brought in ten minutes before the last whistle and despite unexpected 1-0 defeat, Barnes was getting more and more minutes - especially after Phil Brown sack and academy coach Terry Westley takeover of the team in early 2006.
This resulted in Barnes playing 16 games under new coach and scoring the first goal of his professional career in a 2-2 Watford draw. The following season was the most successful one of his career. With a new four-year contract and arrival of manager Billy Davies, the striker very much enjoyed first-team place, as he featured 46 club matches all-together. Of course, there wasn't lack of goals either for Barnes who fired home eight times and secured promotion with Derby that spring.
During 2006-07 season, the attacking-minded chap also earned call-ups to England u19 team for some friendly fixtures. Again showing goalscoring skills, Barnes shook the opponents' net seven times in 12 matches.
The 26-year-old earned reputation for supposedly saying 'Whoosh' whilst running past opponents and what followed was no surprise. Barnes had experienced a terrible set of injuries - broken foot, knee injury etc. which made him miss almost half of 2007-08 season matches, scoring just two in the process.
Later, Barnes found out he's in need of a surgery due to knee injury, which meant missing most of the season, but scoring a double against Manchester United in the League Cup in January 2009.
Fulham have taken him on a six-month loan that year, although for some reason Roy Hodgson disliked him and expressed decision the Craven Cottage side will send him back to Derby after loan expiry. Barnes was released in December 2009 and joined West Bromwich Albion a month later. And a year later, there was Roy Hodgson, again. Barnes did not feature any of WBA games in 2011, obviously for the new manager, and was released in July that year.
No good was there when Giles penned with Doncaster Rovers because he was given chance in 36 games, including the League Cup and FA Cup, getting just one goal in the whole season. Houston Dynamo have signed the bloke in August 2012, three months after departing from Doncaster.
His MLS move turned out surprisingly successful, resulting in 28 goals from 99 appearances for Barnes to this day. The cheeky forward opted for Jamaica in March last year and finally earned an invite this February for Venezuela and Cuba friendlies. Would you look at that, he even scored.
Source: DSG
