The Everton midfielder has been heavily criticised for his performances over the past week.
Leon Osman
When speaking on BBC Radio Five Live on Tuesday April 4th, former Toffees star Leon Osman was harsh in his criticism of current Everton man Ross Barkley, suggesting that he has failed to progress since bursting onto the scene at Goodison Park in 2011.
Ronald Koeman’s men were unlucky to leave Manchester with just a single point last night, after Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s injury time equaliser, but Barkley once again failed to cover himself in glory with a poor display that followed his woeful showing at Anfield against Liverpool in the Merseyside derby on Saturday.
And Osman, who made 432 appearances for Everton during a 16 year spell with the club, told BBC Radio Five Live how now is the time for the 23-year-old to progress to another level, highlighting how he cannot be classed as a ‘young player’ anymore:
Everton manager Ronald Koeman with Ross Barkley
“I don’t like to put him down but he’s been playing in the first team now since he was 17, 18 years of age – and that’s a long time to have been playing in the Premier League and not kicked on and not made that next step. He should have the experience behind him at this level and it’s worrying that he’s still being talked about as a young player and ‘give him time’.”
The Blues’ last two results have all but ended their faint hopes of finishing inside the top four this season, with seven points now separating themselves and fourth placed Manchester City, having played two more games than Pep Guardiola’s men.
And the final seven games will surely prove to be an extremely important period for Barkley, if he is to have a future at Goodison Park.
Everton’s Ross Barkley in action with Manchester United’s Eric Bailly
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