ENGLAND vs UZBEKISTAN

Four new faces for Pearce's squad

Wednesday, 04 August, 2010

Pearce names 19 players for meeting with Uzbekistan at Bristol City.

Click here  to watch an interview with Stuart Pearce ahead of the Uzbekistan match.

After a five month break without a game, England Coach Stuart Pearce has named his Under-21s squad to face Uzbekistan in next Tuesday's International at Ashton Gate.

It is the first time Pearce has brought his charges together since their 2-1 defeat to Greece in March and the 19-man party includes a few new faces to the set-up.

Phil Jones, Martin Kelly, Jordan Henderson and Marc Albrighton have all been selected for the first time by Pearce and will be hoping to play a part as the Young Lions look ahead to their crucial European Championship Qualifiers against Portugal and Lithuania in September.

England need to win both games next month if they are to qualify from Group Nine and reach the play-offs, and Pearce is pleased to be able to run the rule over his side with these important games on the horizon.

"We’re looking forward to playing again after sitting on a defeat for five months. The defeat to Greece put us in a difficult position in the group so we need to be ready." Pearce told TheFA.com.

"It’s given us a lot of planning time, so to have a friendly next week is great for us. Going into two important, must-win games next month without this game first would be unthinkable.

"No club manager would ever start a new season without first playing some friendly games. It's not just good for fitness, but to have a look at some new players and tactics.It will also provide one or two players with a chance to stake a claim for the new season." he continued.

"Henderson would have been with us in March but he picked up an injury which ruled him out," revealed Pearce.

"I caught Marc Albrighton at the end of last season and Steve Wigley saw him up again this season and he’s done extremely well on both occasions. He has also performed for the younger age groups as well, so he thoroughly deserves to be with us.

"Phil Jones did fantastically well at the back end of last season at Blackburn. Anyone who gets in and plays in the Premier League has got to be taken seriously. He’s still a very young player.

"Martin Kelly has played for Liverpool in this pre-season in a European qualifying and I also saw him with the younger age groups, so it’s a great opportunity for him."

Pearce added: "Because we were so successful a year ago reaching the European Championship Final, there was no preparation time for many friendlies before we went straight into qualifying, so it makes it difficult to have a look at players and tinker with the squad.

"This match will give us a chance to prepare for what will be two very important games next month."