Gareth Barry returns to training as Aston Villa stick to rules

Gareth Barry has been summoned to report for pre-season training at Aston Villa this morning as the stalemate continues over his proposed move to Liverpool, but the England midfield player expects to get the move he craves soon. Although Barry's return from exile has been regarded in some quarters as an olive branch from Martin O'Neill, the Villa manager, it appears to have had more to do with Professional Footballers' Association (PFA) rules, which govern that a player cannot be banned from his workplace for longer than two weeks. Barry was told on July 2 that he was not welcome at pre-season training, having given what the club called an “unauthorised” interview in which he criticised O'Neill for blocking his move to Liverpool. A fortnight later, though, PFA rules dictate that the player must be allowed to resume work.... [read full story]