Everton midfielder Gareth Barry has warned teammate Ross Barkley that he will have to get used to being roughed up by opposing players.
The big youngster found himself the target of multiple fouls right from the first whistle as Watford visited Goodison Park on Saturday, but veteran Barry thinks that it will be par for the course as Barkley's career develops.
"Ross is going to have to deal with that at times. They made six or seven fouls in the first five or six minutes," Barry told reporters after the game, which ended in a 1-1 draw.
"So it was pretty clear they were going to make it tight in the middle of the pitch and tough for us to get out. It was hard for us to get on the ball.
"We couldn't play our normal free-flowing football. For England, you are playing against the best players in Europe, you are not going to have a lot of time on the ball. It is something he will have to deal with."
Barkley has been an ever-present for the Toffees in the league this season, scoring eight times and notching up seven assists.
Neil Wilkes
