Ross Barkley believes his Chelsea performances merit an England call-up

Ross Barkley is thriving under Maurizio Sarri and believes he would be a much better footballer had their paths crossed sooner.

Barkley fears he lost valuable years of personal attention and coaching after making his Everton debut at 17.

Only now, under Sarri at Chelsea, does he feel as if operating again in his natural position and receiving constructive tactical advice.

Barkley said: 'I've thought about it, and I believe that if I did have that type of approach from a coach when I was younger then maybe I would have improved a lot more.

'Over the years I haven't been coached much and I'm at an age now where I understand football.

'When you go through the youth system you always do analysis work, looking at every way of improving and your coaches are always on top of you.

'Then, when you get to the first team it can change, because managers are focusing on weekly results and not player development.

'When I broke into the Everton side under Roberto Martinez I was playing in the No 10 role and I'd never played there before.

'Usually I was a No 8. Or before I broke my leg a deep-lying midfield player. I've always been a central midfielder and now I am, in a three, and I'm comfortable with that.'

Barkley admits it was a wrench to leave his boyhood club but, at 24, finally feels he is in the right place with the right coach and fitter than ever.

Already this season, he has played 469 minutes of competitive football compared to 208 last season and is expected to start on Thursday night against Vidi in the Europa League.

'Sarri's philosophy has helped me a lot,' said Barkley. 'His style really suits mine and I think as the season goes on I will show a lot more what I'm capable of and create chances.

'Our players are high up the pitch, he likes to press and when we receive the ball we are closer to the goal to take shots and create chances. That's the way I like to play.'

It is more than two years since Barkley's last England appearance.

After injuries last season, he missed the World Cup in Russia and was overlooked last month by Gareth Southgate as the search for midfield creativity moved to the next generation, including Mason Mount, Phil Foden and Jadon Sancho.

'I think my performances show that I am capable of being in the England squad,' said Barkley. 'I've played a lot of minutes. I had a strong pre-season as well and I'm feeling as fit as ever. So I feel with the amount of games I've played I'm ready to be called up.'

Sarri expects Southgate to recall Barkley on Thursday for fixtures against Spain and Croatia.

'I think he will return to the national team,' said the Chelsea boss. 'He is improving week by week and he can improve more from tactical and physical points of view. Technically, he is very good. So he can become a great player.'

Sarri, unbeaten in his first nine games as Chelsea manager, promised as many as nine changes against the Hungarian champions, and hinted at game time for Ruben Loftus-Cheek, who is fit after a foot injury picked up on England duty last month.