Leighton Baines admits selection for England's Euro 2012 squad has helped to ease the World Cup heartache he suffered back in 2010.
Full-back delighted to be on his way to Euro 2012
Leighton Baines admits selection for England's Euro 2012 squad has helped to ease the World Cup heartache he suffered back in 2010.
The Everton full-back formed part of Fabio Capello's preliminary squad ahead of the World Cup two years ago, but failed to make the final cut.
Ashley Cole and Stephen Warnock were selected ahead of him on that occasion, but Baines has responded admirably to that setback and forced his way back into contention.
With Roy Hodgson now at the national team helm, the 27-year-old will be heading to this summer's European Championship.
Disappointment
Baines is delighted to have made the 23-man travelling party and is relishing the opportunity to experience tournament football.
He said: "It's nice to get the call. Last time it was an initial 30-man squad and you were hanging around for a couple of weeks.
"Then you had the disappointment that comes with not making the final squad.
"Hopefully this call-up goes a bit to making up for that a little bit.
"Now it's just about getting through the next couple of weeks and the manager (Hodgson) getting his points and ideas across and us taking them on board."
While pleased to have been offered a seat on the plane to Poland and Ukraine, Baines appreciates that he is likely to spend much of Euro 2012 watching on from the sidelines.
Difficult
He said: "Ashley (Cole) is a top, top player so it would be very difficult to get into the team.
"My job at the moment is to do the best I can and, if at any point I'm called upon, step in and do as good a job as I can.
"But at the moment, Ashley is on top of his game and it will be tough to dislodge him.
"The good thing is I've started the last three games and am starting to really feel part of the squad.
"It's something you grow into almost and starting games is going to help you do that."
