Harvey Barnes: Gareth Barry Is Capable Of Playing Until He's 40
Gareth Barry's younger teammates believe he is capable of playing on until he is 40. The veteran midfielder, who turns 38 in February, is enjoying his first ever campaign in the second tier after 20 consecutive seasons in the Premier League. He’s worked his way into the Baggies team in recent weeks and has started four of the last six games for Darren Moore. In Albion’s last fixture, a 4-1 victory over Reading, he completed the full 90 minutes and started the match as captain.
Harvey Barnes was born just six months before Barry made his Villa debut 20 years ago, but the youngster believes his experienced teammate, who has played 770 senior games, can continue till his 40s. “I don’t see why not,” said Barnes, who is currently away with England under-21s. “He has had a great career and I’m sure he’d like it to continue. He is massive for the team. You can see when he steps into the team it sort of brings a calmness around the place. You see it in training all the time, but when you are out there on a Saturday he just brings that composure and he has got a great left foot. Everyone knows what he has achieved a lot in his career and he is a real asset to the team.”
Crawley Town midfielder Dannie Bulman, who turns 40 in January, is currently “the oldest player in league football and Barry isn’t even the oldest player in the Championship, because that accolade goes to Peter Crouch.“ But Barnes is grateful for the midfielder’s tips in the dressing room. “He helps the young lads,” he said. “He is great “in the changing room“ and with the young lads stepping up from the academy, he really helps them. He is just a great person to have in the dressing room.”