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BARRY: YOUNG ON VERGE
Young: Barry encouragement
Gareth Barry has revealed that Aston Villa team-mate Ashley Young is on the verge of an England recall.
Young has not featured in the England squad since the summer friendlies against USA and Trinidad & Tobago and was again left out for the current World Cup double-header, despite being named Premier League Player of the Month for September.
But according to Barry, coach Fabio Capello has written to Young assuring the 23-year-old forward he is keeping a close eye on his progress.
"Time is definitely on Youngy's side and the manager has told him that too," Barry told the Express & Star.
"He (Young) knows he is playing well with a lot of confidence and he knows he is not too far off.
"He got a letter beforehand saying he is close to being in the squad. He knows he is not far away and just needs to keep doing what he is doing. His time will come.
"Every club gets a fax come through. It's good for him to know. If players like that are getting left out of the squad then the players currently in it know they really need to perform."
Barry was replaced after a goalless first half against Kazakhstan on Saturday before England went on to win 5-1.
The Villa star must now wait to see if he retains his place in the starting line-up for Wednesday's trip to Belarus.
"As an individual it is disappointing but you have to look past that and focus on the next game," Barry added. "We can look forward to that with nine points from nine.
"There was no natural width so the manager decided to change it. It's a team game and I was the one to come off so there's no worries."
