Barry pleads with Bridge to reconsider England future

Gareth Barry has revealed how Manchester City’s players are trying to persuade Wayne Bridge to perform a World Cup U-turn.

Bridge felt he had to turn his back on his country in the aftermath of the affair between his former partner Vanessa Peroncel and the then England captain John Terry.

But Barry says that City’s very own “Team Bridge” have told the left-back to listen to England manager Fabio

Capello’s appeal for a rethink – and not to make a decision he could one day live to regret.

“There have already been conversations between the City boys and Wayne and we would all like to see him go to the World Cup,” said City and England midfielder Barry.

“We just wanted to see what his mindset is at the moment and I am sure there will be a time when we talk to him about it again. He hasn’t really softened his stance so far, although he has been injured so I haven’t seen him for a while.

“His thoughts were the same last time we spoke and at the end of the day the decision will be down to Wayne.

“I think we would all like to see him go to the World Cup. Time can change people’s opinions and hopefully that will happen with Wayne.

“I am sure he doesn’t want to sit down in a few years’ time and regret anything. None of us knows what thoughts he is having, but I hope he will change his mind. World Cups don’t come around very often. It might be his last chance.

“No one wants Wayne to take a decision he may one day regret, but at the same time I think we must all ­respect whatever he wants to do.”

Terry was stripped of the England captaincy by Capello as punishment for his indiscretion.

Bridge subsequently told Capello he was withdrawing himself from international contention and pointedly refused to shake Terry’s hand before City’ s 4-2 win over Chelsea at Stamford Bridge last month.

The left-back is currently sidelined after undergoing a hernia operation following his withdrawal from last Sunday’s 1-1 draw at Sunderland.

But he expects to be back in action in a month. He would normally be a certainty for the World Cup inSouth Africa, with England’s No.1 left-back Ashley Cole out injured with a broken foot.

Barry admits that he felt uncomfortable about linking up with Terry when England faced Egypt in a friendly at Wembley this month.

Barry added: “It was a bit awkward but you have to put these things aside when you are a professional footballer.

“I went there to do a job for England and you can’t think about anything else. As professionals it is a case of everyone getting on with it.”