England

v

Romania


Nationwide Under-21 International Friendly
7.45pm, Tuesday 21 August 2007
Bristol City FC, Ashton Gate
Ticket Hotline 0871 222 6666
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A year ago, England's Under-21s were beginning their season with their first UEFA Championship Qualifier against Moldova at Ipswich Town, with a place in the Holland Finals their aim.

While Theo Walcott and David Nugent were scoring for the Three Lions in their 2-2 draw, down the A14 in Northamptonshire, and almost a million miles away, Michael Kightly was scoring Grays Athletic's third goal in a 3-1 win over Conference rivals Rushden and Diamonds.

Now, twelve months on, it's all change for the 21-year-old Basildon-born winger, who received his first call-up to the Under-21s on Thursday morning for the friendly against Romania in Bristol.

However, prior to his loan to Wolves from Grays in November, and the subsequent permanent deal agreed in January, Kightly had seen action for the Three Lions having been selected for England's National Game XI by coach Paul Fairclough.

Kightly didn't play in any official matches, but did have a run-out when they played in the opening game of Forest Green Rovers' New Lawn stadium last September. He was then called into Fairclough's initial squad for the European Challenge Trophy game against Holland in November, but his move to Wolves curtailed those ideas.

A former Southend United trainee, Kightly was released by the Shrimpers having made just five starts. He moved to Grays Athletic in July 2005 and helped them finish a respectable third in their debut season in the Conference and also collected an FA Trophy winners medal. His rise from non-League to the Under-21s almost mirrors the path taken by Under-21s Coach Stuart Pearce, who named him in his first squad as full-time coach.

Pearce was with Wealdstone when he made the move into the Football League with Coventry City in 1983 and three years later, while at Nottingham Forest, he picked up his only Under-21 cap in a game against Yugoslavia in Peterborough. Pearce then went on to establish himself as one of England's all-time legends, collecting 78 caps and reaching two major Semi-Finals.

"Players coming up from non-League doesn't happen so often these days," said Pearce, "But Michael deserves his call up."

"After moving from Grays he did well with Wolves towards the end of the season and really impressed, so this will be a good opportunity for him."

Kightly is not the only newcomer to the Under-21s, Craig Gardner from Aston Villa earns his first call at any level after some good performances from last season that he carried over to this season's Premiership opener with Liverpool.

In the defensive positions, Pearce has named a trio of players with bags of England youth team experience, Michael Mancienne, Martin Cranie and David Wheater.

Midfielders Michael Johnson and Fabrice Muamba also step up from the U19s along with Dexter Blackstock who joins Matt Derbyshire, Luke Moore, Gabriel Agbonlahor and Theo Walcott as one of the forwards.

"Wheater and Cranie both played in Premier League matches last night and are familiar with each other having played alongside one another for England before. So they should settle in well," added Pearce.

"Blackstock has also started the season well scoring for QPR at the weekend."

"But that's what our aim is, to promote players and work them through the system. We have a great deal of international experience in this squad, through all levels, so it will be good to see them all together next week and get a good start to the season."

Tickets are on sale now priced just £10 adults and £5 concessions from the Ticket Hotline 0871 222 6666 or in person from Ashton Gate.