Gareth Barry levels Ryan Giggs' record for Premier League appearances

Gareth Barry equalled Ryan Giggs' record of 632 Premier League appearances on Saturday after starting in West Bromwich Albion's midfield for a visit from West Ham United.

The 36-year-old was fast-tracked to the Aston Villa first-team as a left-back in his teens, but soon established himself as a holding midfielder through his stints with the Villans, Manchester City, Everton, and now West Brom.

While he hasn't drawn anywhere near the amount of adulation as Giggs did during his days exploding down Manchester United's left flank, Barry notably proved a steady influence alongside Yaya Toure in the triumphant 2010-11 FA Cup run and 2011-12 Premier League victory at Manchester City. He's also won 53 England caps, and travelled to Euro 2000 and the 2010 World Cup.

England has often preferred No. 8 style midfielders over more withdrawn operators - it wasn't until Michael Carrick reached his mid-30s before he garnered regular and deserved attention - but Barry has often left clubs with a bigger legion of admirers.

The esteem he is held in was displayed in the summer, when West Brom manager Tony Pulis chose Barry as the man to fill the void left by his respected skipper Darren Fletcher's departure to Stoke City.