Everton: 'I'll always keep my feet on the ground' says Ross Barkley
Ross Barkley has played down complimentary remarks made by great Spanish midfielder Xavi who says the Everton player is good enough to represent Barcelona.
The 34-year-old Xavi has won every honour available to him at both club and international level and believes Barkley has a great future ahead of him.
But the 20-year-old, who is currently with the England squad preparing for Saturday's European Qualifier against Slovenia, is refusing to get carried away.
"I haven't really felt any expectation on me. I am just focused on getting better and doing things right on the pitch," he said.
"I've always had my feet on the ground and I don't forget where I come from. It's great to be compared to the likes of Paul Scholes and the Wayne Rooneys of this world.
"But I’m just focused on being myself, playing my own game and hopefully getting better."
And Barkley believes the future is bright for England with the side closing in on a place at the finals of the 2016 European Championship after three wins from three qualifiers.
Barkley, who missed the start of the season through injury but has now played five successive games for Everton, added: "We have a good bunch of young players in the (England) squad and we have got to push each other.
"And the experience of the older lads will also help us as well and by the time the tournament comes around hopefully we will have pushed on at club level and are better for it when we get to those finals.
"Every player dreams of lifting a trophy for England and it would be a dream come true for me if that happened."