Club v Country - Does Barton have a point, or just make you feel Psycho?

The Newcastle midfielder, who made his one appearance for England in last February's defeat against Spain, claimed fellow professionals attach too much important to their international careers.

For many, such as England captain John Terry, Frank Lampard, Steven Gerrard and Barton's Newcastle team-mate Michael Owen, there is no bigger honour.

For Barton, winning the Premier League ranks above winning the World Cup. Opinion is divided, but Barton has supporters in surprising circles.

Stuart Pearce, who won 78 caps during a distinguished international career with England, sympathises with Barton's position, but claimed he would never turn down the call from his country.

Pearce, coach of the England Under 21 team, said: "Reading between the lines and in support of Joey, I would probably think he was trying to say: 'I need to play for Newcastle before I can think about playing for my country'.

"If you're fortunate enough to be called up to the senior squad, you should take it with both hands because it's a real honour. You probably only realise what an honour it is when you retire."

Barton accused players of getting carried away by the prospect of playing for their country and claimed his one England cap 'will do for me'.

Greats like Gary Lineker and Alan Shearer escaped criticism when they retired from international football but played on at club level.

But Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher was accused of letting his country down when he pulled the plug on his England career — despite being behind Terry and Rio Ferdinand in the pecking order.

Carragher insists the decision will prolong his club career and he has support from former Manchester United and England defender Paul Parker.

He said: "For me, it's club over country every single time. They pay your wages, invest a lot more time in you than your country and you have to respect that.

"When I was playing for England, I had a policy not to join up with the country if I was injured. Can you imagine what it's like going back to United and Sir Alex Ferguson after picking up an injury on international duty?

"The only time I played when I was injured, we lost 1-0 at home to Germany in 1991 and I shouldn't have been on the pitch. Players have to consider their futures when picked by England."

Sportsmail columnist Jamie Redknapp echoed those comments in this newspaper only last month, but the old school still believe an England cap is the biggest single honour in a player's career.

Former Tottenham midfielder Alan Mullery thinks that turning your back on your country is one stop short of treason.

Mullery, the first England player to be sent off when dismissed in the European Championship semi-final against Yugoslavia in 1968, is staggered by Barton's stance.

"In my day, it was the be-all and end-all to play for your country," said Mullery, who won 35 caps. "It was unheard of for a player to pull out, but there is a different attitude these days. I liked David Beckham's attitude when he came out and said he wanted 100 caps, but I can't understand some of the modern players.

"When you received a call-up for your country, you would run there if you had to. All that has changed."

Pressure to deliver in the Premier League is the major factor and losing players to injury can cost points.

That is the undercurrent of the simmering row between Newcastle manager Sam Allardyce and his striker Michael Owen, but there is a different approach on the continent.

Wales manager John Toshack, who has managed Real Madrid, Real Sociedad and St Etienne during a colourful career, claims representation is not a problem in the rest of Europe.

Toshack said: "I've worked in six different countries and there are more problems here in Britain and Ireland with the club versus country issue than any other.

"I've worked in Spain where 14 or 15 players have gone away out of a squad of 20 — and they are expected to go away. If a player doesn't turn up for the Turkey team, for example, woe betide him.

"At Real Madrid, one of my players travelled to Brazil on a Sunday to see a team doctor and came back on the Tuesday. There are more complaints from managers here than there are from anywhere else."

IT'S NOT AN ENGLISH DISEASE

AIYEGBENI YAKUBU (Nigeria)

Refused to play in the African Cup Of Nations and claimed he withdrew because of his bad relationship with national coach Augustine Eguavoen.

EL HADJI DIOUF (Senegal)

Called time on his international career at 26, criticising the lack of organisation and complaining about having to buy his own air tickets.

MARK GONZALEZ (Chile)

Claimed he would never play under coach Nelson Acosta again after being expelled when he was caught with 'young ladies' in his hotel room.