Stuart Pearce picks his 23-man squad for the European Under-21s Championship.
England Coach Stuart Pearce has named a 23-man squad to take part in this summer’s UEFA European Under-21s Championship in Sweden.
The squad will also take on
Azerbaijan at stadiummk in Milton Keynes on Monday 8 June before flying out to Sweden.
Gabriel Agbonlahor, Theo Walcott, James Milner, Steven Taylor and Micah Richards are all included in the party, a clear intent of Pearce’s aim to take his best players out to the tournament.
“We are very pleased with the overall balance of the squad," Pearce told TheFA.com. "We have three or four players who are extremely versatile and can play in a number of positions. We also have a young squad with the players such as Muamba, Cattermole, Gibbs, Welbeck and Rodwell all being available for the next campaign, so this experience will be vital for them.
"They may be young, but they have all had good experience with their clubs this season and we believe they are the finished articles at this level.”
Hearts winger Andrew Driver has also been selected in the party alongside West Ham’s James Tomkins, both players winning their first call ups for the Under-21s squad.
“We have a couple of new faces in the squad this time around," continued Pearce. "Andrew has benefited from Aaron Lennon’s injury in a way and has come off a good season with Hearts up in Scotland. He will provide us with natural width which is something we needed in the squad alongside the likes of Adam Johnson and James Milner.
"James Tomkins has come through the England youth ranks, had a good season at West Ham and this tournament experience will be invaluable to him.”
Under-21 players including Tom Huddlestone, Jamie O’Hara, David Wheater, Matt Derbyshire and Lennon will all miss the tournament through injuries.
“It is bitterly disappointing for the boys missing out, particularly players that have done well for the team and have worked hard to get us here," admitted the Coach. "But we can’t affect that now. We have to concentrate on the 23 players that will be on that plane.”
England will leave for their Spain training camp next week and will return to play Azerbaijan in Milton Keynes on Monday 8 June. England will kick off their tournament against
Finland in Halmstad on 15 June and will also play Spain and Germany in Group B.
Pearce added: “I have every confidence in this squad, we are really looking forward to competing with the best Under-21 teams in Europe, and hopefully, doing our country proud with our performances. It should be a fantastic tournament.”
The England Squad
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GoalkeepersJoe Hart (Manchester City), Joe Lewis (Peterborough United), Scott Loach (Watford)
DefendersMartin Cranie (Portsmouth), Kieran Gibbs (Arsenal), Michael Mancienne (Chelsea), Nedum Onuoha (Manchester City), Micah Richards (Manchester City), Andrew Taylor (Middlesbrough), Steven Taylor (Newcastle United), James Tomkins (West Ham United)
MidfieldersLee Cattermole (Wigan Athletic), Andrew Driver (Hearts), Craig Gardner (Aston Villa), Adam Johnson (Middlesbrough), James Milner (Aston Villa), Fabrice Muamba (Bolton Wanderers), Mark Noble (West Ham United), Jack Rodwell (Everton)
ForwardsTheo Walcott (Arsenal) Gabriel Agbonlahor (Aston Villa), Frazier Campbell (Tottenham Hotspur - on Loan), Danny Welbeck (Manchester United)