Pearce shuffles pack as new campaign gets underway

August 10, 2009

England Under-21 boss Stuart Pearce has brought in five new faces as his side look to build on their runners-up finish at the recent European Championships.

Daniel Sturridge, Andy Carroll, Freddie Sears, Junior Stanislas and Chris Smalling have all been called up for the first time, as England travel to the Netherlands for a friendly match on August 11^th.

Qualifying for the 2011 European Championship gets underway next month and Pearce will be keen to retain the momentum that saw his side reach the 2009 final. He said: “We’ve not taken an easy game and there is reasoning behind that. Our last few games will then have included Holland, Germany, Sweden, Spain and France prior to that over the months – so we have played all the blue chip European countries.”

Many of the players involved will be looking to stake their claim for a place in the senior squad, particularly as 2010 is World Cup year. Pearce has seen enough to believe that at least one or two can make the cut:

“We’re one step away from a senior international cap and that’s there for all to see. Over the last period there have been seven or eight players that have been in both squads, which is fantastic. It shows these players that they have every opportunity”.

Manchester City’s Micah Richards will be one of those hoping to catch the attention of Fabio Capello, as will former team-mate Daniel Sturridge, who recently left City to join Chelsea.

Both players have long been recognised as having the potential to become a mainstay of the senior squad but it seems a safe football bet they will have to work hard if they are to force their way into the manager’s plans for South Africa.

England Under-21 squad in full:

Frankie Fielding (Blackburn), Scott Loach (Watford)’ Ryan Bertrand (Reading), Kieran Gibbs (Arsenal), Michael Mancienne (Chelsea), Kyle Naughton (Tottenham), Micah Richards (Man City), James Tomkins (West Ham), Chris Smalling (Fulham); Lee Cattermole (Wigan), Fabien Delph (Aston Villa), Fabrice Muamba (Bolton), Jack Rodwell (Everton), Danny Rose (Tottenham); Andy Carroll (Newcastle), Freddie Sears (Crystal Palace), Junior Stanislas (West Ham), Daniel Sturridge (Chelsea), James Vaughan (Everton).