Baines: Left-backs need to be at the top of their game

Leighton Baines believes England are as strong as they have ever been at left-back, with a string of players vying for the No.3 jersey.

The Everton defender has become Roy Hodgson's first choice this having spent much of his international career behind Ashley Cole in the pecking order.

However, since Cole's retirement, Baines has established himself as the Three Lions' regular left-back, but insists there is no room for complacency with a number of younger players waiting in the wings.

"It is always a challenge to be picked for England, you have to try and be on top of your game," said Baines.

"There is no change in my approach, I do the best I can and try to be selected.

"There are some good players here; Kieran [Gibbs] and Luke [Shaw]. Danny [Rose] was here, Ryan Bertrand has been in squad before."

He continued: "We are as strong as we have ever been in this position. It is great for the squad as a whole to have those options.

"If the starter got injured [Hodgson] would not have too much of a dilemma to put someone else in."

Leighton Baines believes England are blessed with left-backs

Baines has also welcomed the return of his club-mate Ross Barkley to the international fold after spending the start of the season on the sidelines due to injury.

Barkley was one of England's stand-out players at the World Cup and, at 20 years old with nine caps to his name, Baines believes he will become a major player for England in the future.

But Baines also says that he must be given time to flourish, with his career at both club and international level still relatively young.

"He's a thinker, a young, exciting player with lots of raw ability," said the 29-year-old.

"He is coming from a place where he was playing reserve team football and then playing for England in a really short space of time.

Ross Barkley played in all three games at the World Cup

"We have to continue to allow him to develop but I think that is what the manager is doing here and what the manager is doing at Everton. He doesn't start every single game at Everton but he’s trying to develop him in the right way.”

Baines added: "I don't want to compare him to anyone else at this point. He's the type of player, with his power, you don't see a lot of.

"He has a lot of natural attributes but now he's thinking about the other things, slowing things down, making the right decisions in the right areas, and we are seeing that already.

"He's come such a long way in such a short space of time and I'm sure he is going to be a huge asset for Everton and England."