The veteran midfielder has been in good form for Everton this season.
Speaking to Sky Sports, Paul Merson has claimed Everton midfielder Gareth Barry is a dream to play with for the Blues’ forward players.
The veteran midfielder has been in impressive form once again for Ronald Koeman’s side.
While new midfield partner Idrissa Gueye has received the plaudits alongside him, Barry has quietly gone about his business, playing a key role in the Toffees’ midfield once again.
His performances have not gone unnoticed by Merson, who says that the 35-year-old is a dream for the players ahead of him.
“He is a dream to play with as a forward or as a number ten,” he told Sky Sports.
“With a ten-yard pass, he splits three defenders. He’s as good as anybody. He isn’t blessed with a lorry load of pace but his intelligence as a football is as good as anybody in the Premier League.”
With such impressive performances of late, there are now some whispers that Barry could be a smart choice for England at present.
He has not made an appearance for the Three Lions since 2012 after playing in a friendly against Norway.
His international record is still blemished by the 4-1 loss to Germany at the World Cup in 2010, when Barry was one of a number of players to be left embarrassed by the Germans’ attacking power.
And when asked if Barry was discarded too soon by England, Merson was unequivocal in his answer.
“For me, he was,” he added.
“Most of the games England play we have 80% of the ball so we want so we want people who can keep the ball and he keeps the ball.”
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