“I heard the manager’s comments and the lads have been ribbing me about it ever since,” says Baines.

“But I have always been of the opinion that you do well for your club and then the international side of things will take care of themselves. That was shown when I got into the last squad but didn’t really expect to. You know, though, that if you do the job right, the England manager’s looking at you.

“Before Christmas that was a million miles away from my thoughts. I just wanted to get back in at Everton and was figuring out how to do so. I was coming in and working hard on a daily basis, but it was tough because I knew I wouldn’t have a game at the end of the week.

“It’s really hard when you’re not getting a game. In the first season I had problems with my ankle and was on the sidelines because of that. That was disappointing, but I came in at the start of this one for a couple of games – but still couldn’t get a run. That was really difficult.

“You try to distract yourself by occupying yourself with other things, like getting stronger, faster and that. But it’s hard knowing the best you will get is the bench at the weekend.”

Baines adds: “I spoke to the manager two or three times to tell him how frustrated I was feeling, and how hard I was finding it.

“He always said I’d be the left-back here for a long time, but at that moment, when the lads were playing well without me, it does become hard to believe at times. I just had to persevere and I’m getting the reward now.”