QPR midfielder Joey Barton targets England call-up
Last updated on .From the section Football
QPR new-boy Joey Barton has set his sights on an England call-up following his move to Loftus Road.
The 29-year-old made his debut for the Londoners against former club Newcastle, who he left on a free transfer in August, in Monday's 0-0 draw.
And speaking before the game in the match-day programme, he said: "I feel I've got something to offer England.
"I watched England in Bulgaria the other night and I didn't see any reason why I can't get back into that side."
England won that Euro 2012 qualifier in Sofia 3-0 - but Barton believes there is room for him in the international set up if he impresses under Rangers boss Neil Warnock.
"I have to do my job for QPR first, but if I'm doing the business on a Saturday, that gives me the ability to push myself into the reckoning. That's all I can take care of at the minute," said Barton, who won his solitary England cap in a friendly against Spain in February 2007.
"I need to get it right on the pitch and I need to start making waves for this football club. If good enough and selected, I'll be proud and more than happy to represent my country."
Warnock, too, is backing his new signing to shine for the Londoners this season, after signing the controversial midfielder on a free transfer from Newcastle.
"Everybody always talks about Joey's baggage and I think if you look at myself, we have all said and done things in the past that we probably regret later on," Warnock told the BBC's Sportsweek programme.
"But if you look at what Joey has got to offer, if he didn't have a little bit of baggage then I am sure Queens Park Rangers couldn't be signing him. I think he would be at a top-four club without a shadow of a doubt. You can't tell me he wouldn't enhance at least three of the top four clubs because I think he would.
"He has quality and I wouldn't rule him out playing for England again."
