Montenegro v England
2009 UEFA European Championship Group 3 Qualifier 
Friday 7 September 2007
City Stadium, Podgorica

Bulgaria v England
2009 UEFA European Championship Group 3 Qualifier 
Tuesday 11 September 2007
Bulgarska Armia Stadium, Sofia

Stuart Pearce welcomes two new faces into his squad for next month’s opening 2009 UEFA European Under-21 Championship qualifiers in Montenegro and Bulgaria.

After a 1-1 friendly draw against Romania in Bristol last week, Pearce also has captain Steven Taylor back in the side after his week with Steve McClaren’s senior squad.

Of the new faces, Southampton midfielder Andrew Surman gets his first England call-up after impressing Pearce at the weekend, while Norwich City goalkeeper Joe Lewis makes his first step into the Under-21s having already claimed caps at U16s, U17s and U19s.

The England Under-21 Coach, who was at St Mary's on Saturday, said: “Andrew had a good season at Southampton last year and has taken that form into this campaign.

“He’s a very promising midfielder and I saw him play against Stoke at the weekend and he was in good form.

“He took his goal well and looked very good throughout the game.”

Pearce continued: “Joe has been playing very well on loan at Morecambe and has come through the England system, so it’ll be good to see him join up with us.

“He was on standby for the Romania game, but because it was a short get-together, we felt it was better for us to take just two goalkeepers. This time, it’ll be a good opportunity for him to sample the Under-21 squad.”

Pearce is looking to build on last season, which saw his side miss out on a place in the UEFA Championship Final after an agonising 13-12 penalty shoot-out to hosts Holland.

But, after seeing a new crop of players start the season in a positive mood against Romania, he feels that the squad has a lot of quality. And with experienced figures back to blend with the younger talent, Pearce is confident England can reach the eight-team Finals in Sweden in 2009.

“I was pleased with what came out of the last game. It was good to see the squad training and playing all together,” he said.

“Though we have a fair few new faces, the squad is of a very similar make up to last season’s side. With the players we still have from the Championship in Holland playing alongside the newer players, I don’t see why they can’t go on and qualify for the Finals again."

Pearce added: “Steven Taylor is back in the squad after his time with the senior squad last week, and it’s good to have him in the side, he’s a leader and a very commanding presence, but would no doubt have learned from being with the full squad.

“Andrew Taylor will also return after picking up an injury that kept him out of the game in Bristol and he’s another player that will add strength to our defence.”

The Squad

Name

Club

Birth Date

Caps

Goals

Goalkeepers

Ben Alnwick

Tottenham Hotspur

01.01.87

1

0

Joe Hart

Manchester City

19.04.87

3

0

Joe Lewis 

Morecambe (loan)

06.10.87

0

0

Defenders

Martin Cranie

Portsmouth

23.09.86

1

0

Craig Gardner

Aston Villa

25.11.86

1

0

Michael Mancienne

QPR (loan)

08.01.88

1

0

Nedum Onuoha

Manchester City

12.11.86

9

0

Andrew Taylor

Middlesbrough

01.08.86

2

0

Steven Taylor

Newcastle United

23.01.86

18

4

David Wheater

Middlesbrough

14.02.87

1

0

Midfielders

Tom Huddlestone

Tottenham Hotspur

28.12.86

19

1

Adam Johnson

Middlesbrough

14.07.87

1

0

Michael Johnson

Manchester City

24.02.88

1

0

Michael Kightly

Wolverhampton Wanderers

24.01.86

1

0

James Milner

Newcastle United

04.01.86

29

2

Fabrice Muamba

Birmingham City

06.04.88

1

0

Mark Noble

West Ham United

08.05.87

6

0

Andrew Surman

Southampton

20.08.86

0

0

Forwards

Gabriel Agbonlahor

Aston Villa

13.10.86

4 

0

Dexter Blackstock

Queens Park Rangers

20.05.86

0 

0

Matt Derbyshire

Blackburn Rovers

14.04.86

5

3 

Luke Moore

Aston Villa

13.02.86

2

0

Theo Walcott

Arsenal

16.03.89

7

4