Barkley will thrive under Koeman and Southgate, says Barry

Gareth Barry believes Ross Barkley is ideally placed to continue his impressive form and establish himself as one of the country’s top players.

The 23-year-old attacking midfielder has been in fine fettle since the turn of the year, and was rewarded with a call-up to the England squad for the first time since Euro 2016 for their matches against Germany and Lithuania.

And fellow midfielder Barry, 36, believes Barkley’s bosses for club and country, Ronald Koeman and Gareth Southgate, are the perfect pairing to push the mercurial Evertonian on to the next level.

Barry was a young player at Aston Villa after joining as a trainee in 1997, when Southgate was a senior pro, and played alongside him for four years.

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“Gareth Southgate understands the game, he understands the personalities, which is just as important, and Ross will need talking to like Koeman has done with him this season,” said Barry.

“Koeman seems to have kicked his game on another level. The manager here deserves a lot of credit for that and I’m sure Southgate can do the same.

“I’ve only got massive words and high regard for Gareth Southgate. I was delighted when he was announced as England manager.

“I know he’s been working hard since he finished playing football with his coaching. He had a lot of respect, he’s worked his way up and for me he was the right man for the job.

“He comes across as a really nice guy but he’s got a ruthless streak when it’s needed so that’s a good trait to have.”