Baines rubbishes homesick claims

Last updated : 15 June 2010 By BBC Sport

Baines feels he was misquoted after revealing he would miss his family when asked about travelling to South Africa.

He told the Liverpool Daily Echo: "I never mentioned the word homesick. I felt my comments were misconstrued and I came across as a bit of a moaner."

The 25-year-old had been hoping for the left-back slot behind Ashley Cole but Capello opted for Aston Villa's Warnock instead, a player who did not feature in the game against Mexico on 24 May or the friendly with Japan.

"It was a massive disappointment and something of a surprise even though, like most of the lads in the squad, I knew full well that I wasn't guaranteed a place," added Baines.

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"I was feeling low because I knew I hadn't played my best against Mexico and I spoke to a reporter I know about how the game had gone.

"At the end of the conversation I was asked if I was missing the family while we were away and I said I was but that it's all part and parcel of being a footballer.

"I'm not embarrassed to admit that being away from the family is difficult at times but I'm not the only player who feels that. It's natural when you've got a young family and you're away from home for long spells so I was shocked when I read some of the reports that later surfaced."

Before the squad was announced, Baines admitted that being away from home was something he had always struggled with.

But the Kirkby-born player insisted that Capello's decision to omit him from the 23-man squad was based purely on professional grounds.

"I was as desperate to make the plane as every other member of the squad and my family was 100% behind me, so I was bitterly disappointed when Mr Capello told me that I wouldn't be going," he added.

"It was a football reason though and had nothing to do with anything written in the newspapers. I respected his decision and wished him and the lads all the best for the tournament."

Source: BBC Sport

Source: BBC Sport