Barry: Good to be back

WORLD CUP:

GARETH Barry is looking forward to being reunited in the England midfield with Frank Lampard and Steven Gerrard after winning his battle to be fit for Friday’s World Cup clash with Algeria.

The Manchester City player insists he is fully recovered from the ankle problem suffered in early May against Tottenham which threatened his participation in the finals.

His partnership with Lampard and Gerrard was pivotal in England reaching South Africa in impressive style with nine wins from 10 games in the qualifying group.

Barry said: “The three of us played the majority of games and I think there was a good understanding.

“Stevie was working from the left but coming centrally and getting forward quite a lot.

“They both chipped in with their fair share of goals and it really worked well.”

It is a relief to Barry to be involved in his first World Cup finals after being overlooked for 2002 and 2006 by Sven–Goran Eriksson.

He admits it was “touch and go” whether he would recover sufficiently from the ligament damage suffered against Tottenham at Eastlands on May 5.

Barry said: “It has felt like the World Cup was never going to come for me.

“Midway through the Sven–Goran Eriksson era, my England career and the World Cup looked miles away.

“When the injury came, it felt like it was one of those things that was not going to happen.

“It was touch and go but it was important I never stopped believing.”

Barry added: “The ankle has been fine for 10 days. Another week’s training in the lead–up to the Algeria game and I should be spot on.

“If the manager had asked me if I was ready to play against the United States at the weekend, I would have bitten his hand off to try to make the starting team.

“I was desperate for us to go two or three goals up and then he might have thrown me on!”

Barry joined the chorus of sympathy for ’keeper Robert Green after his error cost a goal against the USA.

He said: “You don’t know what to say to somebody who has made a mistake like that.

“Sometimes you are better leaving them alone and letting them get on with it themselves. But the manager and all the players are right behind Rob.

“The manager spoke to Rob straight away. You know this is football, and those things happen. I’m sure Rob knows and he is thinking he can come out stronger and learn from it.”