England manager Steve McClaren has given Gareth Barry a timely confidence boost ahead of potentially his first international outing in 4 years – selecting centre midfielder Phil Neville to replace the injured Wayne Bridge at left-back.

McClaren is renowned for many things – an affair with a secretary, his inane perma-grin, a gnomic appearance – but, since he opted to bring on nine substitutes strikers with 25 minutes of Middlesbrough's eventual 4-0 UEFA Cup final defeat by Sevilla last May (Boro were 1-0 down), tactical acumen has not been among them. With Bridge joining Ashley Cole on the sidelines yesterday, he decided to bring in Phil Neville who, for all his understated ability, has not played in the position for longer than most fans can remember. Barry will therefore have to content himself with a likely substitute appearance on the left side of midfield.