O'Leary surprised by lack of Barry interest
David O’Leary has admitted his surprise at Sven-Goran Eriksson’s decision to deny any sort of opportunity to Aston Villa midfielder Gareth Barry after his fine form this season.
Barry has been a model of consistency on the left side of midfield and even filled in effectively at left-back in the absence of Wilfred Bouma and Jlloyd Samuel.
He has clocked up over 300 first-team appearances and recaptured the form he demonstrated during Graham Taylor’s reign after returning to Villa for a second spell in charge.
But Eriksson has continued to overlook former Brighton trainee Barry since the early part of his reign as England coach.
O’Leary, whose side visit Manchester City in an FA Cup replay tonight, said: “I think Gareth has been very consistent and I’m surprised that he hasn’t been looked at in a friendly international.
“He’s gone into the left-back role for us and done well in the left midfield position. He has done solid jobs everywhere I’ve asked him to play.
“But I’ve had no correspondence with Sven. He has watched us a few times, the last time at Charlton, but I would say he was watching Darren Bent in that game.”
Barry, meanwhile, believes striker Milan Baros can have a big impact on how Villa will finish what has been a season of under-achievement.
Baros has netted 10 times in 23 starts since his £6m (€8.7m) move from Liverpool and has shown signs of his best form after suffering Achilles problems during the early part of the campaign.
Barry said: “Milan can make a big difference because he is fit and firing. He’s done it at the top level, in the European Championships and for Liverpool, so we know how good he is.
“We all know he could be the difference for us in the games we’ve got left this season.”
