John Barnes has hit back at Stewart Downing’s critics and insists the Liverpool winger deserves his place in England’s Euro 2012 squad.
Downing’s inclusion in Roy Hodgson’s 23-man squad was greeted with derision in some quarters. The 27-year-old, signed from Aston Villa for £20 million last summer time, failed to score for Liverpool this season and did not offer any assists through his 36 appearances in the Barclays Premier League. Barnes claims Downing’s critics happen to be too harsh on the midfielder, even though, and has backed him to star for England throughout subsequent month’s tournament in Poland and Ukraine.
“Forget about what people say, I think Stewart Downing has had a decent season,” Barnes said. “He has created more chances for the team in the Premier League than any other wide player this year. They weren’t taken. He has just been reflective of Liverpool’s season. I think he has done it for England in the past so he has warranted his place.”
Liverpool striker Andy Carroll will also travel to Euro 2012 immediately after making a late charge into the squad even though team-mate Jordan Henderson is on Hodgson’s standby list and may be known as up if Scott Parker fails to overcome an Achilles injury.
Reds skipper Steven Gerrard was also named captain on the national side on Wednesday and Barnes has backed the midfielder to complete a fantastic job. “Steven has been a great leader for England and Liverpool,” Barnes said at an event organised by Coca-Cola to promote the Special Olympics.
“He was one of the plus points from the last World Cup. He is a great leader and a great captain. He is the right and obvious choice.”
Barnes, who won 79 England caps, thinks England have a chance of going all the way in Poland and Ukraine, although he concedes that is unlikely to happen.
“Hopefully we will still be in a position to qualify from the group when Wayne Rooney comes back [from suspension],” he said. “If we go through we will have done very well. With good quarter-final and semi-final draws we can go all the way, but I am not expecting that.”
Downing’s inclusion in Roy Hodgson’s 23-man squad was greeted with derision in some quarters. The 27-year-old, signed from Aston Villa for £20 million last summer time, failed to score for Liverpool this season and did not offer any assists through his 36 appearances in the Barclays Premier League. Barnes claims Downing’s critics happen to be too harsh on the midfielder, even though, and has backed him to star for England throughout subsequent month’s tournament in Poland and Ukraine.
“Forget about what people say, I think Stewart Downing has had a decent season,” Barnes said. “He has created more chances for the team in the Premier League than any other wide player this year. They weren’t taken. He has just been reflective of Liverpool’s season. I think he has done it for England in the past so he has warranted his place.”
Liverpool striker Andy Carroll will also travel to Euro 2012 immediately after making a late charge into the squad even though team-mate Jordan Henderson is on Hodgson’s standby list and may be known as up if Scott Parker fails to overcome an Achilles injury.
Reds skipper Steven Gerrard was also named captain on the national side on Wednesday and Barnes has backed the midfielder to complete a fantastic job. “Steven has been a great leader for England and Liverpool,” Barnes said at an event organised by Coca-Cola to promote the Special Olympics.
“He was one of the plus points from the last World Cup. He is a great leader and a great captain. He is the right and obvious choice.”
Barnes, who won 79 England caps, thinks England have a chance of going all the way in Poland and Ukraine, although he concedes that is unlikely to happen.
“Hopefully we will still be in a position to qualify from the group when Wayne Rooney comes back [from suspension],” he said. “If we go through we will have done very well. With good quarter-final and semi-final draws we can go all the way, but I am not expecting that.”
