Manchester City midfielder Joey Barton is set for his first
international call-up after England coach Steve McLaren admitted he liked
the controversial player's style.
Barton's hopes of representing his country were thought to be limited
after a series of public misdemeanours - including stubbing out a cigar
in a team-mate's eye and brawling in a hotel on a pre-season tour of the
Far East - put him out of favour with the England management.
But a series of impressive club performances so far this season, coupled
with an apparent willingness to stay out of the spotlight off the field
and concentrate on his football, has opened the door to his first international
call-up.
"I know he has had his troubles," said McLaren, who is celebrating
his first six months in charge this week.
"But he is one of those players who has matured. He is a leader,
a great character. I saw him in the Manchester derby. You need forthright
people like that and not just on the field."
But should Barton be called up to the squad for England's friendly against
Spain in February, he is set for a showdown with several players after
voicing his none-too-complimentary opinions last week.
"I'd never write a book unless I'd done something," Barton said
in reference to the decision of a number of World Cup squad members to
pen autobiographies in the aftermath of the disappointing campaign.
"I've achieved nothing in this game. England did nothing in that
World Cup, so why are they bringing out books? A book written because
their agent is telling them they can cash in on the World Cup? That's
not right.
"That wasn't a team. It was a team of individuals playing for themselves
and not wanting to do the nasty things, pulling people in too many directions."
