Progress pleases Pearce

Stuart Pearce will be without two more players for Thursday night's match in Wales, as Michael Johnson and Michael Kightly both have injury worries.

It's the Under-21s' final game of a good season which has see them remain unbeaten, but they will face a stern test from a tough Welsh side.

However, England are full of confidence and also have four players named in Fabio Capello's senior squad for USA and Trinidad & Tobago in their ranks.

"Michael Johnson and Michael Kightly are not fit in our opinions, so they have been sent back to their clubs," said Pearce.

"Kightly rolled an ankle slightly. He trained a double session yesterday but he's not quite confident with it and with the history he's had with it, I was not prepared to put him on a football pitch if my medical staff say they are not 100% sure."

After seeing five players forced out on Tuesday, Pearce called up Tom Huddlestone who earlier this week was named in the senior squad for the first time.

Pearce is also pleased that he has four other players to chose from who were selected in Capello's 31-man squad for the final two games of the campaign, and is keen to promote the club-like atmosphere between the seniors and Under-21 squads

"They are part of the Under-21s and this will stand them in good stead for next week. That is the kind of progression we want to keep, the fact they go from my squad to the seniors or vice-versa," added Pearce.

"The ideal for me in my reign is to have players flit in between two squads for experience at both levels, but come next summer those players part of the Under-21 squad and of the right age are with us so we have a full squad to win a tournament.

"I look at the Italians, having won the World Cup with seven or eight of their players with Under-21 Championship medals. That is probably the way the players will get the camaraderie and learn how to win before taking it into the seniors.

"The teams that don't do that don't do well and you end up with an international void if, in your own mind, you think they have gone past the Under-21 level.

"If they are not playing in the seniors, they are better off playing in the Under-21s.

"We've used 38 players in the season and competition in the team is ripe. I've got five players saying that the game is important because next week they are going to the seniors.

"It has given a bit of extra edge to the game. The rest of the squad can say they have an opportunity because others have done it."

One of those players who has received his first senior call is goalkeeper Joe Hart who has been impressive for both the Three Lions and Manchester City throughout this campaign.

Pearce handed the 21-year-old his Under-21s debut against Spain in February 2007, and was also his manager at Manchester City after signing him from Shrewsbury Town in 2006.

"Joe's laid back at the right times," he said. "He's very focused on his profession. He probably arrived on the scene a year before I thought he would, I didn't think he would play the whole season.

"He's taken his chance and established a claim to be Manchester City's first-choice goalkeeper and in my opinion he's gone beyond that as well. He's been a major part of this squad and has potential to achieve whatever he wants.

"He's got a bit of everything - shot stopping, distribution and he's 6ft 5in. I have a feeling he has a temperament that will take that all in his stride. From day one he's never struck me as the one that gets washed away with that.

"I hope he keeps his first-team berth at Man City next season. I'm sure he will, on top of that hopefully he can stay in the senior squad."

England Under-21s Squad