Former England coach Terry Venables says QPR skipper Joey Barton deserves a Three Lions chance.

El Tel argued in his column for The Sun: "Joey will be the first to admit he has let himself down in the past. I have no doubt he regrets his previous misdemeanours every day. But doesn't everybody deserve another chance? Nobody can condone Joey's behaviour of the past. Even in recent weeks he has hardly covered himself in glory by continuing his long-running feud with Karl Henry on Twitter and TV.

"His QPR boss Neil Warnock has reminded him of his responsibilities as the new skipper.

"But that should not block Barton's dream of representing his country once more.

"Despite his behaviour being improved, he is not perfect and nor should we want him to be.

"But the captain's armband and impending fatherhood seem to have given him a new sense of maturity.

"While I, and no doubt he, is aware that one rash tackle could ruin it all, he is heading in the right direction.

"If no player was given a second chance, then Tony Adams would never have helped England to the semi-finals of Euro 96 or Arsenal to two Doubles."