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Steve McLaren has dropped the biggest hint yet that Gareth Barry will become a permanent fixture - for now - in the England team. England have options within midfield, with Frank Lampard, Owen Hargreaves and Michael Carrick all after a place - however, Gareth Barry's partnership with Steven Gerrard was superb in previous games.
"We always say that my best team will not necessarily be my best 11 players," McClaren told the Birmingham Post.
"It is about players, of course, but more about the team and about blend and balance. That is what we're always searching for.
"I was not surprised at how well he responded. I saw bits of it when we called him into the squad last summer and when he played in the B international against Albania.
"I have seen it at club level in his performances and I have seen him in training, when he and Steven Gerrard look very, very comfortable.
"I had no hesitation in playing them together. They regard each other as good friends and it shows.
"They play together like good friends. They are good for each other.
'When you look at teams, you have pairings - and they have to be good pairings."
Written by majicka
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