I was happy to wait but now I deserve to stay - Barry's message to McClaren - Sport

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The Aston Villa captain was one of the best players on the pitch in the Euro 2008 qualifying games against Israel and Russia last month - but now faces pressure to hold on to his place, with Chelsea midfielder Frank Lampard fit again.

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Barry insists he is happy just to be in Steve McClaren's squad - and responding to a question regarding Lampard, he told Sky Sports News: "The sort of players you mentioned are the reason you have to wait so long for a chance to play for your country.

"There are great players, especially in that central midfield role, and chances don't come around too often so when they do you have got to try and take them.

"There is competition everywhere, so it's nice to put my name in among the players you've been talking about."

Barry has not yet heard whether he will retain his place, but is relishing another chance to impress against Estonia on Saturday and then Russia next Wednesday.

"It's always great to be selected to play for your country," he added.

"To play the last two games was a bit of a surprise, with the injuries (to other players). It's nice to put in two good performances and for people to talk about the way I played.

"The last two games were brilliant for me. But going back to the Germany game [a friendly in August], I got a good 40 minutes - and got a lot of confidence, which set me up for the qualifying games."

He was in bullish mood about England's qualification prospects, adding: "You only have to look at the league table before the two games, and it probably wasn't easy reading. But now it's all in our own hands."