I can fill Gareth Barry's boots says Craig Gardner

Jun 9 2009 by Lisa Smith, Birmingham Mail

VILLA midfielder Craig Gardner staked a huge claim for the chance to fill former skipper Gareth Barry’s boots after another competent performance for Stuart Pearce’s England Under-21s.

Gardner was on the scoresheet as the young lions romped to a 7-0 victory over Azerbaijan at the MK Dons Stadium last night in their final warm-up ahead of next week’s crucial European Under-21 Championship Finals in Malmo, Sweden.

Villa supporters are still smarting from the departure of England midfielder Barry for Manchester City last week in a £12million move but Gardner feels he can make the step up from bit-part-player to first-team regular at Villa Park.

“I love playing football and I love playing in midfield so hopefully the manager (Martin O’Neill) has seen this game and it’s reminded him what I’m about,” the Birmingham-born player said.

Some Villa fans have suggested Gardner be given more of a chance now in midfield and he would be delighted if that were the case.

“It’s nice to hear that some of the fans think I might be able to step into Gareth’s shoes and hopefully it happens,” he said.