Phil Neville believes Leighton Baines has the qualities to secure a World Cup place in the England squad.
Toffees team-mate supports defender's England claim
Phil Neville believes Leighton Baines has the qualities to secure a World Cup place in the England squad.
Baines, along with Aston Villa's Stephen Warnock, has been elevated to a first-team contender for a Three Lions' berth in South Africa after the self-exile of Wayne Bridge.
Both Baines and Warnock will be vying for a starting berth against Egypt in Wednesday's Wembley friendly, with regular left-back Ashley Cole out injured. Neville, a former England international, has given his Everton team-mate his full backing.
"Leighton is a very level-headed lad who keeps his feet on the ground," said Neville, who won the last of his 59 England caps in October 2007.
Determined
"In the past he was probably just happy to be in the England squad but now there's a quiet determination to go in there and cement his place in the team.
"He has a good chance of starting and hopefully staking a claim for the World Cup.
"He has all the attributes. He's quick, technically good, gets crosses in, knows how to defend and he won't let anyone down."
Baines has yet to make his England debut but Neville does not believe that will be any barrier to the 25-year-old booking a ticket to South Africa this summer.
Neville told the
Liverpool Echo: "There is always someone who comes up late on the rails and does well in a World Cup and what a fantastic end to the season it could be for Leighton.
"He has good experience at international level with the Under 21s and that will stand him in good stead for the game against Egypt."
