Pearce swayed by emerging talent

Stuart Pearce says a focus on youth development shaped his England squad for next week’s friendly international with the Netherlands.

Pearce, who has been installed as the interim manager of the national side since Fabio Capello’s departure, stated that his experimental squad selection was a learning curve for both the new players and the future manager.

“I think it’s important we do get one or two of these young faces in here and find out whether they can handle a game of this magnitude,” Pearce told reporters.

“My mentality going into this game and picking this squad was: ‘What will I need to learn as a manager going into a major tournament in the summer and what would the next manager to come through the door here need to learn about individuals’?”

The inclusion of Sunderland striker Fraizer Campbell, who has only recently returned from an 18-month absence through injury, was the biggest surprise in Pearce’s 25-man squad.

But the former Manchester City manager explained that Campbell’s potential warranted a maiden England call-up.

“I know Fraizer quite well because obviously I’ve taken the majority of these boys to under-21 tournaments,” Pearce said.

“He’s come back into the Sunderland side and given them a real lift.”

“I think he’s done fantastically well to get back from the injury he had and I think he’s an exciting young talent.”

Another debutant in the squad was 22-year-old Manchester United midfielder Tom Cleverley, also fresh from an injury lay-off.

“Again, (I have) been to a major championships with him, been on the road with him (Cleverley),” Pearce added.

“(He) started the season fantastically well, though it’s been a stop-start with injuries.”

“But I think he’s come back in to the United side, they’ve changed position with him and played him in a touch more central role which is something I didn’t do at under-21 level and he’s flourished from that really.”

England face the Netherlands at Wembley on Wednesday.