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Baines surprised to be left out

15 Jun 2010 - 10:13:46

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Everton defender Leighton Baines has admitted that he was shocked and disappointed to be left out of England's World Cup squad.

The 25-year-old former Wigan Athletic left-back was in Fabio Capello's initial 30-man squad before being one of the seven players omitted from the group that eventually travelled to South Africa.

Capello opted to take Aston Villa's Stephen Warnock rather than Baines who played poorly in the warm-up match against Mexico and was then quoted as saying he was worried about being homesick if selected for the tournament.

However, Baines told the Liverpool Daily Echo: "I must admit it was a massive disappointment and something of a surprise even though, like most of the lads in the squad, I knew full well that I wasn't guaranteed a place.

"I was feeling low because I knew I hadn't played my best against Mexico and I spoke to a reporter I know about how the game had gone.

"At the end of the conversation I was asked if I was missing the family while we were away, and I said I was but that it's all part and parcel of being a footballer. I'm not embarrassed to admit that being away from the family is difficult at times but I'm not the only player who feels that.

"It's natural when you've got a young family and you're away from home for long spells so I was shocked when I read some of the reports that later surfaced.

"I'd never mentioned the word 'homesick' once. I felt that my comments had been misconstrued and I came across as a bit of a moaner, which is not like me at all.

"I was as desperate to make the plane as every other member of the squad and my family was 100 per cent behind me, so I was bitterly disappointed when Mr Capello told me that I wouldn't be going.

"It was a football reason though and had nothing to do with anything written in the newspapers. I respected his decision and wished him and the lads all the best for the tournament."