Barry ready to knuckle down

Midfielder out to put saga behind him and focus on qualifiers

By Elliot Ball   Last updated: 26th September 2008

Gareth Barry: England training

Barry: Focussed on England

I didn't make a statement last minute of the transfer window - I made it the week before so I could get my head round doing a job for Aston Villa and now more importantly in the next few days for England.

Gareth Barry
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Aston Villa midfielder Gareth Barry says he is fully focussed on playing for England following his on-off transfer saga.

Barry's potential move to Liverpool was one of the summer's major transfer stories, but after declaring his loyalty to Villa for the foreseeable future, the 27-year-old wants to concentrate purely on his football.

Speaking ahead of England's World Cup double-header with Andorra and Croatia, Barry has indicated that he made the decision a week ago so that he can be in the right frame of mind for both club and country.

"That was the always the most important thing - me being right to play the game of football," said Barry.

"I didn't make a statement last minute of the transfer window - I made it the week before so I could get my head round doing a job for Aston Villa and now more importantly in the next few days for England."

With the transfer window shut and his future resolved, Barry believes he can put doubts over his future firmly behind him.

"I'm mentally prepared now for the games," Barry said.

"It was probably a tough summer for myself, the first time I've experienced something like that.

Doubts

"Any doubts on anyone's mind can wear them down now and again, but that's all over and I'm looking forward."

As attention builds to the World Cup qualifiers, Barry has played down fears that England could be under-prepared after not playing a competitive game since November.

The England midfielder sees no reason for concern about the lack of competitive matches.

"I think it is more lads are anxious and ready to get it up and running, which everyone knows we're going to be judged on and that's the qualifying games," Barry said.

"I don't think we're not going to be sharp or not ready for these qualifying games.

"The work we've done this week has set us up to be ready and I don't think there's going to be another problem."