FROM bursting onto the Premier League scene two years ago in a blaze of publicity, to being consigned to the bench by Neil Warnock on loan at Leeds – Ross Barkley has already seen some of the highs and lows of the professional game.

But the 19-year-old is made of stern stuff, he had the determination to overcome a sickening triple leg break which paused his development when he was just 17, and now after a fraught season the Wavertree-born midfielder is reminding everyone of his promise.

David Moyes trusted Barkley to start in two of Everton’s most high-profile recent games – crucial away clashes with Spurs and Arsenal – and Leighton Baines believes that is a testament to the youngster’s laid-back personality and natural ability.

“Nothing fazes him. He is such a good player and does not get fazed by any occasion,” said Baines, reflecting on Barkley’s assured performance during Everton’s stalemate with Arsenal at the Emirates, which he almost capped with a goal.

“That is why he has started a couple of big games away from home and that underlines not only what a player he is but that he is starting to get the trust as well.

“He has been around the first team for a long time. He made his debut a while back now, so he has been around us long enough to feel really comfortable among the squad.

“He has a hell of a lot of ability and is still a young lad. He will be a top player for the club.

“Ross has got an abundance of talent but it’s about learning the game for him now. The manager is trying to pick the right moments when to play him.”

Alongside Marouane Fellaini and Darron Gibson, Barkley helped the Toffees midfield thrive in the face of Arsene Wenger’s pass masters, and it was a display which brought the visitors admiration from the wider public.

“I wouldn’t complain about not getting any recognition. People recognise what we do,” said Baines.

“We get the plaudits when we play well and work hard. Football people recognise that we have good players.

“We have been steady over the years. We have been shy of really challenging for the Champions League places but we are managing to edge our way closer.”

Baines admits that the most guaranteed way of allowing Everton to consistently compete with clubs like Arsenal would be further financial backing for their manager.

“We have not had that big push in terms of giving the manager that backing to go and buy the players that would really put us right in the mix,” he said.

“It is one thing having it but obviously you have to spend it wisely. You have to get the right players and those that fit.

“So it would not be a given (that we’d be consistently challenging the top four) if we were to get a good amount of money but it would definitely help.”

Moyes rated his team’s chances of the top four at 15% before Tuesday’s draw in North London, which he had previously labelled must-win. But despite the likelihood that percentage has dropped, Baines insisted nobody in the Goodison dressing room is giving up.

“I think we are definitely the outsiders,” said the England defender. “If we are to make it the others have to lose enough points. The other three teams, people would back as favourites to beat us to those two positions.

“But we won’t give up on it. We will keep trying to win games. We have Sunderland and then a home game and if we can get six points from the next two games let’s see what everyone else does.

“We can try and keep up the pressure. You never know. If we keep winning games we might just nick it.”

The challenges keep coming for the Blues, who now face a tough trip to face a Sunderland side buoyed by their Tyne-Wear derby triumph over Newcastle on Sunday.

And Baines knows that the galvanising effect of new Stadium of Light boss Paolo Di Canio will present a potential problem for the Blues.

“It looks like he has given Sunderland a lift already, they got a great result on the weekend,” he said. “He looks like such a character. It looks like he has gone in there and given them a lift.

“It will be a tough game. They are not out of trouble.

“I have been down there myself in the past and you want those points on the board as soon as you can. You want to be safe with games to go and ease yourself of the pressure.

“It will be a really tough game and they will look to match us for work-rate. But we have to keep winning as well.”