Stuart Pearce willing to take on England job for Euro 2012

Young gun ready to fire against Holland: Sunderland's Fraizer Campbell
Jack Pitt-Brooke11 April 2012

Stuart Pearce said today he would welcome the chance to manage England at Euro 2012 as he named his first senior squad for the friendly against Holland.

The caretaker boss is in charge for Wednesday's match at Wembley as the Football Association consider their options ahead of this summer's finalsin Poland and Ukraine.

But the England Under-21 coach is ready to continue in the role for as long as required.

"I've made it quite clear to the FA that I'm more than happy to take the team next week," he said.

"I'm more than happy to take the team to the finals if they need me to. I'm available and I have tournament experience, if they need me to step into the breach in the summer.

"If they need me to take the squad in the summer, I'll do that with pleasure. If they need me to coach for a manager that's coming through the door, I will do that with pleasure as well."

Given that the match is one of only three friendlies before Euro 2012, there were expectations Pearce would pick a largely experimental squad.

Although he did not do that he did include many players he knows from the Under-21 set-up, including the uncapped pair Fraizer Campbell and Tom Cleverley, as well as Chris Smalling, Phil Jones, Daniel Sturridge and Danny Welbeck. Micah Richards was also recalled.

To make room for the youngsters, a number of experienced players were left out: Frank Lampard, Michael Carrick, Jermain Defoe, Peter Crouch and Joleon Lescott. Pearce explained he did not need players whose qualities he already knew.

He said: "My mentality, picking this squad was 'What would I need to learn as a manger going into a major tournament in the summer? Now I know Frank [Lampard], I know John Terry, I know senior players that are not in the squad. I don't think I'd learn anything on Wednesday evening watching them play.

"But I might learn something from maybe one or two
of the other individuals on whether they're going to be good enough to serve England in the summer."

Some experienced players have made it, though, such as Ashley Cole, Steven Gerrard, Gareth Barry, Scott Parker and Wayne Rooney. Explaining their inclusion, Pearce said some experience was still needed. "There have to be one or two old heads maybe that guide one or two of the youngsters," he said. "That's how the game works."

Pearce said he would pick a captain once the squad were together and had witnessed "the dynamics of the group".

The most surprising pick was ­Sunderland striker Fraizer Campbell, who has started just three games since his return from a 16-month injury lay-off.

Pearce, who managed Campbell for the Under-21s, said: "He has come back into the Sunderland side and has given them a real lift. I spoke with
Martin O'Neill about him at a game a few days ago and he spoke very highly of him. I think he has worked fantastically well to get back from the injury he had and I think he's an exciting young talent."

Pearce also has high hopes for Manchester United's Cleverley. He said: "I've been on the road with him to tournaments. He started the season fantastically well - it's been a bit stop-start with the injuries for him.

"However, I think he's come back into the United side, in a more central role, and he's flourished with that really. They talk highly of him and, from what I see and what I know of him, I think he's got a bright future."

Richards already has 12 caps, but was often on the outside under Fabio Capello, who quit the England manager's job after the FA stripped John Terry of the captaincy.

Pearce, who gave Richards his ­Manchester City debut in 2005, said: "He's done extremely well this season. To hold your place in the Man City team is no mean feat."

The FA are expecting a bumper crowd for the match with Holland but some tickets are still available. For more details go to TheFA.com/Tickets

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