Bartley - Loan could put me in Pearce's mind

By Nick Teale

Kyle Bartley is hoping a season-long loan at Sheffield United will be the springboard which sees him leap into contention for both Arsenal and England.

The 19-year-old received praise from his manager and team-mates during a three-month spell with the Blades at the end of last term. The defender has now returned to Yorkshire for the entire 2010/11 campaign and, as well as wanting to get his loan side promoted, he is eyeing an international call-up.

"The aim is to go on loan and get myself into Arsène Wenger's thoughts," he told Arsenal.com. "And if you are playing week-in week-out in the Championship, England Under-21s and [their manager] Stuart Pearce might start looking at you.

"I have spoken to the lads and the manager at Sheffield United and they are all looking to get promoted this year. I think they have invested quite well.

"They've always been contenders in the last five or ten years and I think that will be the aim for this year."

Bartley made 13 appearances for Sheffield United last term and is looking forward to working with their manager Kevin Blackwell again this season.

"I got a taste for it last year," he said. "It was only three months so for me to go for the season will definitely do me good. I enjoyed every minute of it.

"I want to become a solid defender and from there I can work on other aspects of my game. But I am a centre half and if I can defend to the top level I'll have a good chance.

"[Kevin Blackwell] is very hands on, he'll tell you how it is and won't hold back. As a young player when I needed an arm around me he would do that. I've only got praise for him."