Downing deserves England squad spot, insists Barnes

Downing’s inclusion in Roy Hodgson’s 23-man squad was greeted with derision in some quarters. The 27-year-old, signed from Aston Villa for £20 million last summer, failed to score for Liverpool this season and did not provide any assists during his 36 appearances in the Barclays Premier League. Barnes claims Downing’s critics have been too harsh on the midfielder, though, and has backed him to star for England during next month’s tournament in Poland and Ukraine.

“Forget about what people say, I think Stewart Downing has had a decent season,” Barnes said. “He has created more chances for the team in the Premier League than any other wide player this year. They weren’t taken. He has just been reflective of Liverpool’s season. I think he has done it for England in the past so he has warranted his place.”

Liverpool striker Andy Carroll will also travel to Euro 2012 after making a late charge into the squad while team-mate Jordan Henderson is on Hodgson’s standby list and could be called up if Scott Parker fails to overcome an Achilles injury.

Reds skipper Steven Gerrard was also named captain of the national side on Wednesday and Barnes has backed the midfielder to do a good job. “Steven has been a great leader for England and Liverpool,” Barnes said at an event organised by Coca-Cola to promote the Special Olympics.

“He was one of the plus points from the last World Cup. He is a great leader and a great captain. He is the right and obvious choice.”

Barnes, who won 79 England caps, thinks England have a chance of going all the way in Poland and Ukraine, although he concedes that is unlikely to happen.

“Hopefully we will still be in a position to qualify from the group when Wayne Rooney comes back [from suspension],” he said. “If we go through we will have done very well. With good quarter-final and semi-final draws we can go all the way, but I am not expecting that.”