• International
  • America (EN)‎
  • United Kingdom (EN)‎
  • India (EN)‎
  • Ireland (EN)‎
  • Malaysia (EN)‎
  • Singapore (EN)‎
  • Canada (EN)‎
  • Australia (EN)‎
  • Nigeria (EN)‎
  • Ghana (EN)‎
  • Kenya (EN)‎
  • South Africa (EN)‎
  • España (ES)‎
  • Argentina (ES)‎
  • Colombia (ES)‎
  • Chile (ES)‎
  • México (ES)‎
  • Peru (ES)‎
  • Italiano
  • Deutsch
  • Français
  • Brasil (PT)‎
  • Nederlands
  • Türkçe
  • Indonesia
  • 中文
  • 繁體中文
  • 한국어
  • 日本語
  • ภาษาไทย
  • Tiếng Việt
  • فارسی
  • العربية
  • المصرية
  • السعودية
Edition: International
  • Betting
  • Mobile
  • Phone App

Follow us on

Goal.com

Hi | My Account | Sign Out
Register or Sign In:
  • News
    • Football News
    • Football Previews
    • Football Transfer News
    • England Football News
    • Italy Football News
    • Spain Football News
    • Germany Football News
    • Champions League News
    • Europa League News
    • South America News
  • Editorials
    • All Editorials
    • Football Previews
    • Player Ratings
    • World Player Of The Week
    • Top 10s
    • Exclusive
    • English Editorials
    • Italian Editorials
    • Spanish Editorials
    • Teams Of The Week
    • Slideshows
    • The Dossier
    • Omar Momani: Cartoon of the Day
    • Goal.com @ Twitter
  • Live
    • Live Match Centre
    • Live Scores
    • Live Blog
  • Transfer Zone
    • Transfer Talk
    • Transfers LIVE!
    • Transfer News
    • Transfer Tables
    • The 10 Best January Signings
  • Clubs
    • Arsenal News
    • Chelsea News
    • Liverpool News
    • Manchester United News
    • Manchester City News
    • Tottenham News
    • AC Milan News
    • Inter News
    • Juventus News
    • Roma News
    • Lazio News
    • FC Barcelona News
    • Real Madrid News
    • Valencia News
    • Bayern Munich News
    • Borussia Dortmund News
    • PSG News
  • Europe
    • Europe Home
    • Europe News
    • England Home
    • England Table/Results
    • Italy Home
    • Italy Table/Results
    • Spain Home
    • Spain Table/Results
    • Germany Home
    • Germany Table/Results
    • Champions League Home
    • CL Fixtures/Results
    • Europa League Home
    • EL Fixtures/Results
    • Rest of Europe Home
    • Rest of Europe News
    • World Cup 2014 News
    • World Cup 2014 Fixtures/Results
  • Asia
    • Asia Home
    • Asia News
    • Asian Champions League Home
    • Asians in Europe
    • Australia Football News
    • China & Hong Kong Football News
    • Japan Football News
    • Korea Football News
    • India, South, Central Asia Football News
    • South East Asia Football News
    • West Asia Football News
  • Goal Rich List 2013
    • Video Countdown
  • Americas
    • South America Home
    • South America News
    • Brazil Home
    • Brazil Table/Results
    • Argentina Home
    • Argentina Table/Results
    • Libertadores Home
    • Libertadores Table/Results
    • Copa America Home
    • Copa America Table/Fixtures
    • USA Home
    • USA (MLS) Table/Results
    • Gold Cup Home
    • Gold Cup Tables/Results
  • Champions League
    • Champions League 2012-13 Home
    • Champions League 2012-13 News
    • Champions League Fixtures/Results
  • Europa League
    • Europa League 2012-13 Home
    • Europa League 2012-13 News
    • Europa League Fixtures/Results
  • World Cup
    • News
    • Qualifying Fixtures/Results
  • Video
    • La Liga News
    • Serie A News
    • Bundesliga News
    • Champions League News
    • Pick of South America
    • Best of Europe
    • Europa League News
    • Ligue 1 News
    • MLS News
    • SPL Goals
    • Goal Show
    • Youtube Channel
  • Europe »
  • England »
Baines: Competition for left-back spot with Ashley Cole is good for England

Baines: Competition for left-back spot with Ashley Cole is good for England

Latest Yaya Toure: I want to end my career at Manchester City Previous
By John Stammers
Feb 1, 2013 12:30:00 PM

The 28-year-old feels the Three Lions have plenty of options at full-back with Kieran Gibbs, Ryan Bertrand and Luke Shaw all impressing this season in the Premier League

Leighton Baines has admitted it is proving tough to become an England regular but says having strong options is a good headache for Roy Hodgson.

The Everton defender has been in terrific form this term with the Toffees boasting the joint-third meanest defence in the Premier League, with only Chelsea and Manchester City having better records.

The Englishman has also contributed five goals and two assists to the cause, including a stunning strike against West Brom on Wednesday night as part of his match-winning double.

Get Adobe Flash player
 EVERTON LATEST
5/2 Leighton Baines is 5/2 to score anytime against Aston Villa with bet365
Baines has been included in the England squad for the friendly against Brazil but may find himself on the bench, with Ashley Cole in line to earn his 100th cap at Wembley, but the 28-year-old indicated he respects whatever decision Hodgson makes.

"I’m doing what I can my end to get into the England team but the decision isn’t mine," he told the Daily Mail. "It’s with the manager.

"Myself and Ashley are regulars in the squad, but there’s also Ryan Bertrand, Kieran Gibbs has had a great season and Luke Shaw at Southampton is going to be a fine player.

"The good thing for England is that there are a number of options. If it’s ever been a problem in the past, when there has only been one strong option, I don’t think that’s the case anymore."

Following the 2-1 win over the Baggies, David Moyes' men have lost just once in their last 12 league fixtures, taking points from Arsenal, Manchester City and Tottenham in that period.

The club now sit in fifth place in the league table, and are pushing for the Champions League spots, with Baines hopeful that they can maintain their top-four chasing form against Aston Villa on Saturday.

"Villa might not be doing so well but you can’t underestimate anyone particularly in this league, as it has thrown up some strange results this season," he continued.

"Villa have been struggling for a little bit now, but we know they will be fighting and we’ll have to be on our game.

"We have some big games away from home still to come, so these home games are the ones that we have got to be winning.

"We don’t want to be dropping points in home games because it will be put extra importance on the tough away games. The onus is on us when we play at Goodison.

"We all want to get into the top four. In different weeks, different players will come to the fore. That’s how it has been for us all season. On Wednesday I got a couple of goals, but the important thing is that somebody does it. In the main, we have done that."
Sign up with William Hill for a free bet up to £25 WilliamHill
Sign up with bet365 for a free bet up to £200 Bet365
Sign up to Paddy Power for £250 in free bets PaddyPower
Sign up today with Coral and get a £50 FREE bet - no strings attached! Coral
Sign up today with BetVictor and get a £25 FREE BET! BetVictor
  • International Friendlies
  • Arsenal
  • Chelsea
  • Everton
  • England
  • Southampton
  • Luke Shaw
  • Ryan Bertrand
  • Kieran Gibbs
  • Ashley Cole
  • Leighton Baines
Latest Yaya Toure: I want to end my career at Manchester City Previous

Related Stories

  • England»
    Liverpool's Sterling dreaming of regular Wembley visits
  • England»
    Arsenal boss Wenger ‘delighted’ by Monreal signing
  • England»
    Hodgson confirms Wilshere will not feature in Under-21 European Championship this summer

Make Your Prediction Choose match

England - Ireland

  • Manchester City FC - Chelsea FC
England
-
-

Ireland
Prediction Submitted
Most Popular Predictions
  • England 8-0 Ireland
    21.69 %
    odds: 101.00 Bet Now!
  • England 3-0 Ireland
    13.25 %
    odds: 10.00 Bet Now!
  • England 3-1 Ireland
    10.84 %
    odds: 12.00 Bet Now!
play
open
play pause open close
Inside Goal.Com
  • Top Specials
  • Most Read
  • Most Discussed
  1. Top 10 all-time Champions League scorers Top 10 all-time Champions League scorers

    As the competition moves within days of its much-anticipated conclusion at Wembley, Goal profiles the most prolific players in its history

  2. 'Mario, you will never redeem yourself' 'Mario, you will never redeem yourself'

    Mario Gotze's injury means the playmaker has now played his final game for Borussia Dortmund. In an open letter, a fan tells of his emotion at his controversial switch to Bayern

  3. BVB's rise from the abyss to European contenders BVB's rise from the abyss to European contenders

    BVB have recovered from teetering on the edge of bankruptcy to take their place on Europe's grandest stage, humbling their opponents on Saturday, Bayern Munich, along the way

  4. Transfer Talk: Mourinho wants six new signings Transfer Talk: Mourinho wants six new signings

    Get your daily dose of all the speculation from around the globe as clubs cast their eye towards summer reinforcements

  5. Soulless EPL must face up to grim reality Soulless EPL must face up to grim reality

    After a season marred by controversy and a failure of its top teams to put up a credible Champions League challenge, the world's supposed best league is falling behind

 
  1. The top 10 all-time CL goalscorers
  2. La Liga awards for 2012-13
  3. 'Mario, you will never redeem yourself'
  4. Premier League reaches a crossroads
  5. Man Utd target Thiago Alcantara
Goal.com International
  • News
  • Editorials
  • Live
  • Transfer Zone
  • Clubs
  • Europe
  • Asia
  • Goal Rich List 2013
  • Americas
  • Champions League
  • Europa League
  • World Cup
  • Video
Goal.Com Editions
  • International
  • America (EN)‎
  • United Kingdom (EN)‎
  • India (EN)‎
  • Ireland (EN)‎
  • Malaysia (EN)‎
  • Singapore (EN)‎
  • Canada (EN)‎
  • Australia (EN)‎
  • Nigeria (EN)‎
  • Ghana (EN)‎
  • Kenya (EN)‎
  • South Africa (EN)‎
  • España (ES)‎
  • Argentina (ES)‎
  • Colombia (ES)‎
  • Chile (ES)‎
  • México (ES)‎
  • Peru (ES)‎
  • Italiano
  • Deutsch
  • Français
  • Brasil (PT)‎
  • Nederlands
  • Türkçe
  • Indonesia
  • 中文
  • 繁體中文
  • 한국어
  • 日本語
  • ภาษาไทย
  • Tiếng Việt
  • فارسی
  • العربية
  • المصرية
  • السعودية
More
  • Betting
  • Mobile
  • Phone App
Copyright © 2013 Goal.com All rights reserved. The information contained in Goal.com may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed without the prior written authority of Goal.com
Privacy Policy | Terms of Service| Contact Us| About Us