Pearce stokes Walcott row
ENGLAND Under-21 boss Stuart Pearce has risked the wrath of Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger by naming Theo Walcott in a strong squad for next month’s European Championships.
The tournament comes just days after the senior team’s World Cup qualifying double-header with Kazakhstan and Andorra, and Wenger fears the striker faces burn out for the start of next season if used in both.
But defiant Pearce yesterday named Walcott in his 23-man party, along with fellow senior internationals Micah Richards, Joe Hart, James Milner and Gabriel Agbonlahor.
Chelsea defender Michael Mancienne, who was called up by senior boss Fabio Capello late last year but did not play, is also included.
ENGLAND UNDER-21 SQUAD
Goalkeepers: J Hart, J Lewis, S Loach
Defenders: Martin Cranie, K Gibbs,
M Mancienne, N Onuoha, M Richards,
A Taylor, S Taylor, J Tomkins
Midfielders: L Cattermole, A Driver, C Gardner, A Johnson, J Milner, F Muamba, M Noble,J Rodwell
Forwards: T Walcott, G Agbonlahor,
F Campbell, D Welbeck