McClaren dangles carrot

England Under-21s face Holland tonight with the carrot of a place in the senior team dangling in front of them.

Peter Taylor's side, who have reached the finals of the European Under 21 Championships, take on the Dutch 24 hours before Steve McClaren's men play in the Amsterdam Arena.

Taylor will miss the game because of commitments with Crystal Palace, leaving Sammy Lee in charge in his absence. And McClaren says he will be watching the game closely for future recruits.

He resisted the temptation to pick the likes of Theo Walcott this time but will not rule it out in the future. And, of course, he has already brought Manchester City teenager Micah Richards into the senior squad and also called up Kieran Richardson at the last minute to cover for injuries.

"I’m very excited by the players coming through underneath," he said. "But you have to be careful with your timings and which games and which get-togethers you bring them in.

"The fact the Under-21s have qualified for the finals is great and I'm looking forward to that tournament but also looking for the emergence of the likes of Leighton Baines and Gabriel Agbonlahor - who has really impressed me.

"The strikers like David Nugent are doing well - and Theo Walcott is now getting games and proving what a great player he is and what potential he's got. It’s all about potential.

"But my job is qualififcation for the Euros. That’s what I’m looking towards when I pick a squad, which is why the players in the senior squad are the ones taking us forward at the moment. But I will certainly be looking at this Under-21 team to see how they are progressing."

England go into tonight's friendly in Alkmaar without the services of Ben Alnwick (shoulder), Anton Ferdinand (ankle), Andrew Taylor (ankle/calf), Steven Taylor (groin), Lee Cattermole (dead leg), Nigel-Reo Coker (achilles) and Gabriel Agbonlahor (calf) following injuries.

But coach Lee, who has called up Manchester City defender Nedum Onuoha, has vowed they will do everything they can to beat the Dutch and give the senior team a fillip ahead of their match tomorrow night.