Everton manager David Moyes has hailed defender Leighton Baines and believes he is good enough to be an England regular.
Boss highlights star's maturity
Everton manager David Moyes has hailed defender Leighton Baines and believes he is good enough to be an England regular.
Baines capped a fine week by netting the winner from the penalty spot late on against Wolves on Saturday just days after playing for the Three Lions against Sweden at Wembley.
The 27-year-old full-back has now converted his last seven penalties in the league, highlighting his importance for the Toffees at both ends of the pitch.
Since making his England debut in March 2010 Baines' international ambitions have been checked by the form of Chelsea left-back Ashley Cole.
However, Moyes feels he has shown a maturity and consistent levels of performance in recent months to warrant a place in Fabio Capello's first-choice starting XI, with Euro 2012 looming on the horizon.
"Baines plays like an international player now, I see it when he's playing," Moyes told the
Daily Star
Develop
"He is probably saying, 'come on, I am looking for players to play with here and help me develop'.
"Bainesy has had a couple of games where he could have done better, but overall his level of performance for probably two years for us has been excellent.
"He is beginning to show that maturity, which, when he first came, I thought, 'come on, grow up quickly.'"
