Ross Barkley eager to make an impact and earn his place

When Ross Barkley gets on the pitch he has one thing on his mind: “Can I make an impact?”

At just 21 years old, the Everton midfielder has almost become a poster-boy for the next generation of England players – young, fearless and technically gifted.

Already a European Champion, helping John Peacock’s Under-17s to the title in 2010, he swiftly moved through the age groups earning his senior debut in September 2013 – and soon after that his first World Cup appearance in Brazil.

Still eligible for the Under-21s, Barkley is seen as a regular part of Roy Hodgson’s squad and has chalked up more senior caps than he had at any other level for England. 

Nevertheless, all but his two of his 13 outings so far have come from the bench.

And while he is happy to be patient, he does not want to just make up the numbers. Like he tried last weekend in Dublin as England played out an uneventful 0-0 draw with Ireland, his aim is to change games.

“I was watching from the side-line and I felt that I could have made a difference if I came on,” Barkley told TheFA.com.

“I didn’t manage to influence the score, but felt I did okay. I don’t think it was the best game, but when I came on I thought I had a bit of an impact - we had more possession higher up the pitch and had a few chances.

“I just wanted to get on the ball to try to create chances. I did slip a ball through to Millie [James Milner], but it got nicked just in front of him, otherwise I thought he might have scored the opportunity. It didn’t happen, though.

“We hadn’t been together for a couple of months when we met up last week. We’d worked hard in training and needed that game just to get going again. When the qualifier comes on Sunday I think we’ll be really well-prepared for it, thanks to the friendly we had in Ireland.

“We’re focused on putting on a much better performance against Slovenia.”

Ross Barkley says he is learning all the time with England

He continued: “I’m getting a lot of chances off the bench, Roy’s given me the opportunity to come on and try to make the difference.

“When I’m coming on I’ve got to try and create the chances for us, and that will hopefully push me on and help me, further down the line, to be a starter for England.

“I know my role at the moment, I’ve got to keep improving and learning, keep kicking on for Everton and as I’m improving hopefully I’ll get in the starting 11.”

Barkley returned from Brazil last summer as one of England’s plus-points from a disappointing campaign.

A positive player in possession, his eagerness to make things happen and carry the ball forward got the England fans excited. However, they were robbed of the chance to see him back in the Three Lions shirt until November, due to a knee ligament injury during pre-season.

The Liverpool-born playmaker admits his campaign at Goodison Park has not gone as well as he had hoped for, but he is continually looking to grow as a player.

And he revealed he has been watching and learning from more experienced team-mates – as well as opponents.

“If you play backwards all the time you become predictable for the players you are playing against, so sometimes I like to be unpredictable,” he said.

The Everton midfielder in action on Sunday in Dublin

“When I’m receiving the ball I try to make opponents think I’m going to play backwards, they’ll then give me a few yards and I’ll get my turn on and then hopefully do what I know I can do.

“We used to get told when we were younger to feel where your man is and roll on the other side.

“In training I always practised that, because if you can make that extra yard of space, it can push you on to break forward.”

Barkley continued: “At club level I don’t think I did as well as I wanted to do this season, but still I have learnt a lot and felt like I’ve improved as well.

“When I come away with England, listening to the more experienced lads like Joe Hart is great. He’s a good example and is always giving me advice about international football – he’s a really good influence on us younger lads.

“I’ve also been watching clips on Yaya Toure and Mesut Ozil. Ozil is so calm in possession and picks the right passes, which is something I’ve got to get a bit better at. I just observe, just watch clips on YouTube and the spaces he moves into.

“With Yaya Toure, the breaks forward he does and the counter-attacks. When he gets the ball his distribution is really good too.

“Personally, when I get on the pitch, I just try to put in a good performance. If I can do that then hopefully it can lift the lads around me.”

Ross Barkley in action for Everton against England skipper Wayne Rooney

Barkley and his team-mates were back in Hodgson's England camp on Wednesday after a couple of days at home following their return from Dublin.

They were soon out on the training pitch at their base to begin preparations for their important European Qualifier away in Slovenia on Sunday.

Currently ten games unbeaten and with a perfect record on the road to France 2016, Barkley says everyone in training was eager to get into the action again and ensure their run continues.

“All the lads were out there looking lively in training and have put the game against Ireland behind them.

“We’re England, we want to win every game that we can. Obviously that’s not always possible but we try our best to do that.

“You can see the talent we have in this squad. We have really good attacking options and defensively we’re solid.

“Since the World Cup we’ve had a run of good results, we’re unbeaten, and we’re looking to continue that against Slovenia.”