• Premier League

Martinez hits out at pundit over Barry remarks

Gareth Barry has made an immediate impact at Everton © PA Photos

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Everton manager Roberto Martinez says former Liverpool defender Mark Lawrenson does not know what he is talking about in dismissing Gareth Barry's England future.

Barry has made a big impact since moving to Goodison Park on a season's loan from Manchester City, prompting Martinez to put him forward for an international recall.

But football pundit Lawrenson wrote in a column for the Liverpool Daily Post that "Barry has had his time at international level and England have moved on".

The 32-year-old has not played for England since suffering a groin injury during a friendly against Norway in May 2012.

He was unable to regain his international spot once he was fit again, as he had lost a regular starting place at City.

Martinez, though, has dismissed Lawrenson's comments, and said: "That's a typical comment from a media person who doesn't know how the players are on a day-to-day basis.

"What I'm very pleased about is that we've got a lot of English players who can help the national team if the manager feels they are needed.

"I've spoken about Gareth Barry, I've spoken about Phil Jagielka, the good form of Leighton Baines, the emergence of Ross Barkley. I think Leon Osman has shown again that he is a player who can give you something completely different.

"We're not here to answer any questions. We're here to try to help the national team, and we've got a real pool of quality English talent at the disposal of the England manager if he needs them."

Everton have not lost a game that Barry has started for them, and will look to continue that run when Tottenham visit Goodison Park in the Premier League on Sunday.

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