Barton misses Israel and Andorra

March 21, 200719 yr

http://home.skysports.com/list.aspx?hli ... for+recall

Stuart Pearce does not expect Joey Barton to give up on his England dream despite the midfielder's omission from Steve McClaren's latest squad.

Barton made his England debut in the friendly defeat to Spain last month but has not been selected for the upcoming Euro 2008 qualifiers against Israel and Andorra.

However, Pearce reckons Barton will be unperturbed by the snub and will only be driven on to new levels for Manchester City.

"He should not view being left out as being dropped - you only get dropped from a squad when you have been in it on a regular basis - but rather reflect on a fantastic step up the spiral," he told the club's official website.

"He got himself into an England squad and got himself capped.

"It won't affect him, I've seen over the recent years working with him that he's fairly unshakeable in anything that comes his way, he just gets on with it.

"He has got that strong mentality about him that says: 'I know where I want to go.'

"One thing that is driving him is trying to get into that England squad and that's what he wants to achieve.

"He has to keep doing the right things for this football club and keep providing performances."

Barton's career has been punctuated by a series of controversial incidents but Pearce recognises a kindred spirit and has applauded his never-say-die attitude.

"I can see parallels with myself. Neither of us were a golden child and were gotten rid of by the team we supported as young boys," he explained.

"It was adversity that spurred me on and it is the same with Joey, I feel. That is what has dragged him through to where he is now.

"A lot of people who had suffered what he has had to suffer - some of it brought upon himself and some not - would have found it very difficult."

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F**k this w***er !!!