Rodwell misses Serbia return
Sunday, 14 October, 2012
Manchester City midfielder ruled out of U21s Euro play-off second leg in Serbia
Jack Rodwell is out of England Under-21s Euro 2013 play-off second leg in Serbia on Tuesday.
The Manchester City midfielder came off with a tight hamstring at half-time in Friday's first game at Norwich.
After assessment by the Three Lions medical team, it was decided that it would be best for Rodwell to return to his club. He didn't travel with the team to Serbia.
But Coach Stuart Pearce says absences will present opportunities for other members of his squad and he's confident they can rise to the challenge.
"We're disappointed for Jack [Rodwell], naturally, but I know what I've got in this squad and I know they're good enough to see the job through," he said after arriving at the team base in Serbia on Sunday evening.
"We've had a lot of injuries to contend with throughout this qualification campaign so it's not a challenge we're unfamiliar with. I know my players and I'm no less confident in our chances."
He added: "Every time we have had an injury it has provided an opportunity for someone new to come in, and those players have always responded to that.
"When we look back on this qualification campaign we'll know it's been a massive squad effort, that everyone has played a part in.
"We know it's going to be a really tough tie, but it's one we've prepared for and will relish."
Pearce is also without Liverpool defender Jack Robinson and Norwich City keeper Declan Rudd for the game in Kusevac. No replacement players have been called up for the trip.
Robinson failed to shrug off illness ahead of the team's flight, while the Pearce decided to take only three goalkeepers, Jack Butland, Jason Steele and Ben Amos.
England Under-21s Squad
Goalkeepers
Ben Amos (Hull City - loan from Manchester United), Jack Butland (Birmingham City), Jason Steele (Middlesbrough)
Defenders
Ryan Bennett (Norwich City), Steven Caulker (Tottenham Hotspur), Craig Dawson (West Bromwich Albion), Tom Lees (Leeds United), Danny Rose (Sunderland - loan from Tottenham Hotspur), Adam Smith (Tottenham Hotspur)
Midfielders
Jordan Henderson (Liverpool), Tom Ince (Blackpool), Jason Lowe (Blackburn Rovers), Josh McEachran (Middlesbrough - loan from Chelsea), Raheem Sterling (Liverpool), Andros Townsend (Tottenham Hotspur), Wilfried Zaha (Crystal Palace)
Forwards
Nathan Delfouneso (Blackpool - loan from Aston Villa), Marvin Sordell (Bolton Wanderers), Connor Wickham (Sunderland
The Euro 2013 play-off second leg will be screened live on ESPN on Tuesday evening, 5pm kick off (BST).