Milner backs Pearce for top job

James Milner has backed interim coach Stuart Pearce to lead England at the European Championships in June.

Just four days after Pearce nominated Milner as a possible captain, the Manchester City midfielder returned the favour, supporting the man he played under at two successive European Under-21 Championships.

“If Stuart Pearce is manager (at) the Euros it is not a problem for me,” Milner said.

“He is a great manager, was a great player, and in the two Under-21 tournaments we were unlucky on both occasions.”

“We should have won at least one of them but what I noticed was that in the tournaments I had under him, we went in very well prepared.”

“He thinks about every aspect which could come up in a tournament, every eventuality, how we are going to have to play, and how to plan for combating certain teams.”

England will play the Netherlands on Wednesday and go into the friendly without first-choice striking duo Wayne Rooney and Darren Bent.

Rooney has a throat infection, while Bent suffered an ankle injury playing for Aston Villa against Wigan on Saturday.

Sunderland’s Fraizer Campbell, Manchester United’s Danny Welbeck and Chelsea’s Daniel Sturridge are the three remaining forwards in the squad but despite their inexperience, Milner expects the trio to get the job done.

“They’re three young strikers with great ability and you want to see them coming through and staking a claim,” Milner said.

Welbeck has played three times for England, all as a substitute, while Sturridge’s only appearance for England was also off the bench.

Campbell will make his debut if he plays against the Netherlands and Milner believes the injury-prone striker deserves his chance.

“He’s come back and a player who can make that much impact in such a short time from such a long lay-off shows what a character he is,” Milner said.

While Milner is one option to take the captain’s armband, his England teammate Stuart Downing has backed Steven Gerrard for the position.

“He’s captained Liverpool for many years and done very well and if picked for England would do that job well,” Downing said.

“He’s a big player for Liverpool and England, has a great influence on England and drives teams on, so if he is given the captaincy then great.”