England

v

Bulgaria

 

 

2009 UEFA European Under-21 Championship Qualifier
6pm, Friday 16 November 2007
Milton Keynes Dons FC, Stadium:mk
Live on Sky Sports 1

James Vaughan has been named in Stuart Pearce's Under-21s squad for the two upcoming qualifiers, after returning from injury last weekend.

The Everton striker, who made his debut for the Under-21s against Italy in Holland in June, missed the start of the season with a dislocated shoulder suffered in pre-season. However, he returned to Premiership action for the Toffees on Saturday with a goal against Birmingham. 

"We've got some absentees with Mark Noble, Michael Johnson and Martin Cranie all out, but have been able to bring in some new players who have been looking good this season," Pearce told TheFA.com, after naming his 24 players for the Euro 2009 Qualifiers with Bulgaria and Portugal.

"It's the first time back in for James Vaughan since the summer and he's been very unlucky with injuries otherwise he would have been in the other squads this season.

"But it's good to see him back in contention, especially after a goal for Everton on Saturday." 

Also in Pearce's squad, named on Thursday afternoon, is Grant Leadbitter who last pulled on the Three Lions for the U20s over two years ago, but has impressed this season for Sunderland.

"Grant's played in one or two positions for Sunderland this season and has done very well," Pearce continued.  

"I went to Sunderland a couple of weeks ago and watched them train, and also saw him play against Manchester City.
 
"He's playing regularly and getting Premiership experience and I think he deserves his chance in the squad."

Lee Cattermole is another returning player. The Middlesbrough midfielder was called up into five squads last season, but is still awaiting his debut for the Under-21s.

He added: "He's had to fight his way back into the Middlesbrough side and has been a part of the team for the last month or so. He has played very well and deserves a chance, too."

The England Squad

Name

Club

DOB

Caps

Goals

Goalkeepers

Ben Alnwick

Tottenham Hotspur

01.01.87

1

0

Joe Hart

Manchester City

19.04.87

7

0

Tom Heaton

Manchester United

15.04.86

0

0

Defenders

Michael Mancienne

QPR (loan)

08.01.88

1

0

Craig Gardner

Aston Villa

25.11.86

2

0

Billy Jones

Preston North End

24.03.87

0

0

Nedum Onuoha

Manchester City

12.11.86

13

1

Andrew Taylor

Middlesbrough

01.08.86

6

0

Steven Taylor

Newcastle United

23.01.86

22

4

David Wheater

Middlesbrough

14.02.87

2

0

Midfielders

Tom Huddlestone

Tottenham Hotspur

28.12.86

22

2

Adam Johnson

Watford (loan)

14.07.87

2

0

Lee Cattermole

Middlesbrough

21.03.88

0

0

Michael Kightly

Wolves

24.01.86

2

0

James Milner

Newcastle United

04.01.86

33

3

Fabrice Muamba

Birmingham City

06.04.88

4

0

Grant Leadbitter

Sunderland

07.01.86

0

0

Andrew Surman

Southampton

20.08.86

2

1

Theo Walcott

Arsenal

16.03.89

11

4

Forwards

Gabriel Agbonlahor

Aston Villa

13.10.86

8

1

James Vaughan

Everton

14.07.88

1

0

Matt Derbyshire

Blackburn Rovers

14.04.86

9

4

Cameron Jerome

Birmingham City

14.10.86

8

0

Luke Moore

Aston Villa

13.02.86

4

0

Statistics including England v Rep Ireland, 16 October 2007