Everton have recently opened voting for the award on their website, and the England international looks to be a popular choice, with plenty of tweets in support.
I have voted for Gareth Barry as Player of the Season. Who would you vote for? http://t.co/t6aYWfkmZG
— David Mitchell (@efcmitch) April 1, 2014@evertonnewsonly #GarethBarry for me, he has been #CLASS #EFC #COYB
— Geoff Morris (@nighthawkgeoff) April 1, 2014My young players of the Year is John Stones & my player of the Year is Gareth Barry.
Thank you & goodnight
— Matty Searle (@mattycrufc) April 1, 2014Barry completed all 90 minutes once more for Everton in their 3-1 away victory over Fulham, and was inadvertently involved in the Toffees’ opener. Naismith’s shot cannoned off Gareth and onto keeper David Stockdale before finding the back of the net.
Everton face Arsenal at the weekend looking to make up ground on the Gunners in the race for the fourth Champions League spot.
Elsewhere, George Evans continues to win a regular starting place in Crewe Alexandra’s midfield, and was involved in the buildup to the goal. Evans took the corner which led to Coventry defender Clarke finding the back of his own net.
Unfortunately, the Alex eventually went down 2-1 to the Sky Blues but Evans continues to impress for his loan side.
On the continent, Karim Rekik had a rare off day at the centre of PSV’s defence as the Eredivisie side lost 3-2 to Groningen. The defeat sees them fall back to fourth place in the Dutch league after rising as high as second last week.
Meanwhile, Alex Henshall has caught the eye of his manager in his first week with Ipswich Town. The EDS winger, who has had a previous loan spell with Bristol Rovers this season, turned out for the Tractor Boys’ u21 team but has given a good account of himself alongside the first team in training.
Mick McCarthy said: “He’s a talented young player, he went to Manchester City for quite a few quid as a youngster. He’s left-footed, very, very quick. He’s a good footballer, he understands the game, watching him.
“He’s trained with the first team and he certainly doesn’t look out of place. He’s one for us to look at and there’s every chance he’ll be involved [in the first team before the end of the season].”
John Guidetti came off the bench after 87 minutes, and had very little time to make impression as Stoke saw out a narrow 1-0 win over Hull.
In the Championship, Albert Rusnak was an unused sub as Birmingham went down 4-2 to Bournemouth. The Blues were without City midfielder and Wales international Emyr Huws, who remains sidelined with a hip problem.
Birmingham will hope Huws can recover in time for Saturday’s encounter with Doncaster, as the Midlands side sit just two places clear of the relegation zone with seven games to play.
Scott Sinclair was not involved in West Brom’s dramatic 3-3 draw with fellow Premier League strugglers, Cardiff.
