Barton: I’m good enough for England

Joey Barton has set himself the aim of returning to the England side.

The Newcastle United midfielder has been capped once by England and feels that he is good enough to play for Fabio Capello’s side.

“For me, first and foremost I want to do well for Newcastle United,” he told the Evening Chronicle.

“But watching some of the performances in the World Cup over the summer I think that on form, I’m as good as anybody in this country.

“I don’t say that lightly and I have to go out and prove that, but surely every midfielder in this country should be thinking like that?

“They should be looking at it and saying, ‘That’s where I want to be and that’s where I can go’.

“That’s my goal, and if I break into the England squad, it proves that I am doing fantastic for this football club.

“I’m a much more rounded footballer now than I was when I first signed for this club. Injuries have restricted my chances to show that.

“If I can sustain fitness for a long period of time, I’m very confident of finding the form that got me in the England squad.”

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