Source: SKY_Sports
Moyes tips Baines for WC
David Moyes believes that if Everton defender Leighton Baines maintains his current form he will go to the 2010 World Cup in South Africa with England.
The Toffees boss has been delighted with the 24-year-old's form especially in the second half of the campaign.
But it has not been all plain sailing for the boyhood Everton fan. After signing from Wigan at the beginning of last season for £6million the full-back found Joleon Lescott in his way for a first-team berth.
Baines' luck changed when an injury to Joseph Yobo before Christmas forced Lescott to move to his preferred position of centre-half and the full-back hasn't looked back.
"If Bainesy was honest, I think he'd turn around and say he was surprised by the size of the football club and what was required when he first came here," Moyes told the club's official website.
"Maybe he underestimated the levels he had to play at. But he has been outstanding recently, his performance at Chelsea was probably his best since he joined Everton.
"I've told him that if he keeps playing like that, he will go with England to the World Cup, no question. He is growing all the time."
Taking chancesAfter patiently biding his time for a chance to prove himself in his favoured position Moyes expects Baines to hold on to the spot for a long time to come.
"I've always said that he is going to be Everton's left-back for a long, long time and my views haven't changed," he added.
"I had a few conversations with Bainesy and he was feeling frustrated. People might say it's easy now but I never saw Joleon being a long-term left-back.
"That's how he got into the England squad and where he was noticed. But his development was geared towards being a central defender. That's his right position.
"Once that happened, the opportunities were always going to come for Bainesy.
"We just never foresaw the way things were going to turn out and he just had to be patient."
