Pearce picks squad for away double
Thursday, 27 August, 2009
23-man squad named for away qualifiers in Macedonia and Greece
UEFA Under-21 Championship
Qualifying Group Nine
FYR Macedonia v England
2.30pm (BST) Friday 4 September
Goce Delcev, Prilep |
Greece v England
5.00pm (BST) Tuesday 8 September
Asteras Tripolis, Tripoli Arkadia |
Stuart Pearce has named his squad for the opening matches of the UEFA European Under-21 Championship qualifying campaign, as his team takes their first steps towards the Finals in Denmark in 2011.
There are also three new faces coming into the 23-man squad for the away double-header in Macedonia and Greece.
The Three Lions will meet up in England next week before kicking off their Group Nine qualifiers with a trip to Prilep in Macedonia on Friday 4 September 2009 (2.30pm ko BST).
They will then make the relatively short hop to Greece, where they will play in Asteras Tripolis, Tripoli on Tuesday 8 September 2009 (5pm ko BST).
“The opportunity to have the players together for ten days gives us the chance to take a look at them a lot closer in training,” Pearce told TheFA.com.
“The Holland trip was vital for us to begin the start of another two-year cycle and see one or two new players before the competitive games begin.
“What we have to do as a squad is hit the ground running next week. We have two very tough qualifiers to start the campaign, both away from home, and we need to make sure we pick up as many points as we can.”
Several of Pearce’s squad come equipped with experience from the previous tournament in Sweden this summer, while the newcomers to the age group will get their first big-match experience during the trip.
Yeovil ‘keeper Alex McCarthy, on loan from Reading, joins up with the squad for the very first time, as does Derby County’s Miles Addison in defence.
Arsenal youngster Jack Wilshere returns to the squad after his debut from the bench in Holland, while Manchester United’s young midfielder Tom Cleverley, who is on loan at Watford and scored twice for England’s U20s two weeks ago, also comes into Pearce’s side for the first time.
“Anyone playing well in the other age groups we’ll look at them,” said Pearce. “I obviously get a report from the coaches and a copy of the game to see them all. I have been very impressed with Tom and I also went into Watford and watched him train there.
“We also saw Miles at the back end of last year, playing primarily as a holding midfielder. Nigel (Clough) has used him as a centre-half this year and he’s done very well, scoring a couple of goals.
“He’s had a good start to the season and that coupled with how well he did last season, we thought it was worthwhile bringing him into the squad. He’s a big lad and is a player who is improving all the time.”
Pearce added: “It’s very early in the season, there’s some that have done well for their clubs and some have gone out on loan. Hopefully as the weeks go by we’ll have more and more players playing first team football.
“We’re looking forward to these two games. The players will be prepared and I’m delighted with their attitude after the first game of the season in Holland. We’ll know even more about them at the end of this ten day period.”
The England Squad
Player's Name
|
DOB
|
Club
|
Caps
|
Goals |
GOALKEEPERS |
|
|
|
|
Frankie Fielding |
04/04/1988 |
Blackburn Rovers |
2 |
0 |
Scott Loach |
27/05/1988 |
Watford |
6 |
0 |
Alex McCarthy |
03/12/1989 |
Yeovil (loan from Reading) |
0 |
0 |
|
|
|
|
|
DEFENDERS |
|
|
|
|
Ryan Bertrand |
05/08/1989 |
Reading (loan from Chelsea) |
2 |
0 |
Kieran Gibbs |
26/09/1989 |
Arsenal |
9 |
2 |
Michael Mancienne |
08/01/1988 |
Wolves (loan from Chelsea) |
16 |
1 |
Kyle Naughton |
11/11/1988 |
Tottenham Hotspur |
3 |
0 |
Micah Richards |
24/06/1988 |
Manchester City |
10 |
2 |
James Tomkins |
29/09/1989 |
West Ham United |
4 |
0 |
Chris Smalling |
22/11/1989 |
Fulham |
1 |
0 |
Miles Addison |
07/01/1989 |
Derby County |
0 |
0 |
|
|
|
|
|
MIDFIELDERS |
|
|
|
|
Lee Cattermole |
21/03/1988 |
Sunderland |
14 |
2 |
Fabien Delph |
21/11/1989 |
Aston Villa |
2 |
0 |
Fabrice Muamba |
06/04/1988 |
Bolton Wanderers |
19 |
0 |
Jack Rodwell |
11/03/1991 |
Everton |
7 |
2 |
Danny Rose |
02/06/1990 |
Tottenham Hotspur |
3 |
0 |
Jack Wilshere |
01/01/1992 |
Arsenal |
1 |
0 |
Tom Cleverley |
12/08/1989 |
Watford (loan from Manchester United) |
0 |
0 |
|
|
|
|
|
FORWARDS |
|
|
|
|
Freddie Sears |
27/11/1989 |
Crystal Palace (loan from West Ham) |
1 |
0 |
Junior Stanislas |
26/11/1989 |
West Ham United |
1 |
0 |
Daniel Sturridge |
01/09/1989 |
Chelsea |
1 |
0 |
James Vaughan |
14/07/1988 |
Everton |
3 |
0 |
Danny Welbeck |
26/11/1990 |
Manchester United |
2 |
0 |