Leighton Baines believes that Ross Barkley is starting to get the respect of opposition teams and they are starting to employ special tactics to stop him.
“He’s starting to build up a reputation now and teams are beginning to show him that bit more respect,” Baines told reporters at the recent England press conference
“In the first few games maybe when they saw him on the team sheet there was no preparation around him from the opposition but now there will be.
“That’s something he will have to learn to deal with and he will because he’s going to be a top, top player. No doubt about it.
“The great thing for him is that he’s now getting his education on the pitch which is the best place to learn. Now he has to combat the attention.”
Baines says Barkley has received special treatment from experienced defender, but he will have to handle the rough and tumble of the Premier league.
“We all have to go through it,” he said.
“The opposition will do things just based around stopping you and it’s how you respond but he will. “He’s looking to learn all the time and the manager and us as senior players are trying to help him because he’s a massive asset for us.”
Ross Barkley has risen to prominence this season having come through the Everton ranks. He went out on loan to Sheffield Wednesday and Leeds, but this season has really pushed on and is one of the first names on the Everton team-sheet.
Meanwhile former Liverpool fatty Jan Molby has said that Barkley isn’t ready for international football, he said to the Daily Star Sunday “England are always looking to fast-track these talented players – with the latest example Ross Barkley.
“He looks an exciting talent but is he ready for a World Cup? I would suggest not. He is just about ready for Under-21s football. In any walk of life you need to go through an apprenticeship.
“They hand out caps far too easily. It takes nothing really – two good games at domestic level. You don’t become a great international footballer because you have played a few good games in the Premier League.
“The better Under-21s are always to be found in the full squad, which ties into this mentality of thinking that the players have made it before they truly have.
“Look at Spain or Germany – they stick their exceptional players in the Under-21s for their progression.
“Barkley manages to hold his own in big games technically but sometimes the English get carried away.
What this has to do with an aging Danish kopite is another question!
Do you believe that Barkley is ready for international football or do you agree with Molby that it is too early? Have your say at www.theevertonforum.com
How does the saying go? If you’re good enough then you’re good enough! It doesn’t matter how old you are! Was Owen too young back in 98? Exceptional cases cause for exceptional measures! And if I’m not mistaken, our 6ft2″ Barkley measures up just nicely against the best of them!