Gareth Barry lined up for Intertoto after Liverpool stall over offer

Gareth Barry is due to return to competitive action for Aston Villa at his behest this evening because he fears that he is slipping down the pecking order of Liverpool’s transfer targets. Martin O’Neill, the Villa manager, likened Barry’s transfer saga to an Agatha Christie mystery yesterday as he prepared to include the disillusioned England midfield player in the team to face Odense BK in the Intertoto Cup, in a Villa side which is likely to be captained by Martin Laursen, Barry asked to play for the reserves away to Walsall on Tuesday, when he proved that his fitness, after a heel injury and a close season spent waiting for Liverpool to meet Villa’s £18 million asking price, was surprisingly sound. With Rafael Benítez, the Liverpool manager, prioritising a £20 million move for Robbie Keane, the Tottenham Hotspur striker,... [read full story]