Manchester City manager Stuart Pearce is pleased to see England
boss Steve McClaren taking an interest in Joey Barton's improved
form this season.
McClaren said earlier in the week that he was considering selecting
the combative midfielder for his next England squad, and Pearce is
delighted by the news.
"I think it's a step in the right direction with the England
manager saying 'we're aware of you and that you're playing
extremely well.' All the indicators are right," Pearce told the
club's official website.
"No one would be more pleased than me if Joey got into the squad.
He's worked very hard to get where he is now and it gives everyone
at this football club great credit.
"I know he's got a burning ambition to represent his country. I
think any player at this football club that gets international
recognition, Micah Richards, Stevie Ireland, especially players
that have come through the Academy system, it should give the club
immense pride - and it does.
"I can only see it as a positive. You've got to equate it to
yourself and whenever I was selected it gave me immense
pride.
"If any of our players go away on international duty, I'm pleased
for them. We'd never stand in their way and stop them joining up
with their country. It should give them a massive lift and they
should come back better players.
"The one thing I'd say about him (Joey Barton) is that he's
improving. As the months and the weeks go on I think that he's
getting better and better. If you ask me whether he's the finished
article then I'd say definitely not, I think there's improvement
there. The more coaching time he gets out there and the more he
matures as a person, the better he'll get as a player.
"He's had a good first half of the season and we've got the new
England manager talking about him being a possibility; that has got
to be a fantastic lift for him.
"He needs to have a good second half to the season and, having
stuck a whole year together, he'll put some pressure on the England
manager and obviously keep performing for me."