Source: Daily_Mail
Jack Wilshere in England snub as Stuart Pearce calls Arsenal youngster up to Under-21 squad
Jack the lad: Wilshere has been picked for the U21's [LNB]Jack Wilshere was yesterday dropped to the England Under 21s a fortnight after he made his senior debut for Fabio Capello at Wembley.[LNB]The Arsenal midfielder came on as a late substitute for Steven Gerrard in England's 2-1 win over Hungary.[LNB]But his hopes of remaining in Capello's plans received a setback when he was named in the Under 21 squad for next month's European Championship qualifiers against Portugal and Lithuania.[LNB]Newcastle hat-trick hero Andy Carroll has also been included in the Under 21 squad - although there is a chance he could yet be promoted.[LNB]'Jack's had the experience of an international cap with the seniors and his development will come,' said Under 21 boss Stuart Pearce.[LNB]'Like Theo Walcott, having the experience of playing with the Under 21s and seniors will be a help to him and is something he will have to come to terms with.[LNB]'He shouldn't feel disappointed that he's been in the senior squad and then come back to the Under 21s and that's the mentality he has to come to the squad with.'[LNB]Manchester City defender Micah Richards and Everton midfielder Jack Rodwell, who were also hoping to feature in England's opening Euro 2012 qualifying matches against Bulgaria and Switzerland next month, have also been named in Pearce's 24-man Under-21 squad. [LNB] Sticky Toffee: Everton's Rodwell captained the England U21's in their last game [LNB]However, Arsenal defender Kieran Gibbs - who figured in England's defeat of Hungary, also as a second-half substitute - appears to be in line for another senior call having been left out. [LNB]Pearce added: 'It's the strongest squad we could have got at this stage of the season. Kieran Gibbs aside, we're looking pretty strong. [LNB]In the mix: Gibbs looks set for his second call up to Capello's squad [LNB]'I was very impressed with the contribution of the players in the last match and the majority of those players are in, with one or two additions on top of that.' [LNB]Liverpool defender Martin Kelly, Blackburn defender Phil Jones, Sunderland midfielder Jordan Henderson, Wigan striker Victor Moses and Aston Villa winger Marc Albrighton retain their places following their debuts against Uzbekistan earlier this month. [LNB]Albrighton's Villa team-mate Nathan Delfouneso is also back in the squad after making a goalscoring debut for Pearce's team against Greece in March.[LNB]There is also a first call for highly-rated Huddersfield goalkeeper Alex Smithies, who has previously been capped at Under-17 and Under-19 level.[LNB] Pearce explained: 'He's had a lot of experience at Huddersfield over the last couple of years and is a goalkeeper who can play again in the next campaign for us. [LNB]'We feel he has done extremely well when we've seen him and even though he's young, he's played a lot of matches which is similar to Joe Hart when he was playing for Shrewsbury for a couple of years before he went to Manchester City.'[LNB] England play Portugal in Barcelos on September 3 before facing Lithuania four days later at Colchester's Weston Homes Community Stadium. [LNB]Squad: Frankie Fielding (Blackburn Rovers), Scott Loach (Watford), Alex Smithies (Huddersfield Town), Ryan Bertrand (Nottingham Forest - on loan from Chelsea), Phil Jones (Blackburn Rovers), Martin Kelly (Liverpool), Michael Mancienne (Chelsea), Micah Richards (Manchester City), Chris Smalling (Manchester United), Kyle Walker (Tottenham), Marc Albrighton (Aston Villa), Tom Cleverley (Manchester United), Jack Cork (Burnley - on loan from Chelsea), Jordan Henderson (Sunderland), Henri Lansbury (Arsenal), Victor Moses (Wigan Athletic), Fabrice Muamba (Bolton Wanderers), Jack Rodwell (Everton), Danny Rose (Tottenham), Jack Wilshere (Arsenal), Andy Carroll (Newcastle United), Nathan Delfouneso (Aston Villa), Daniel Sturridge (Chelsea), Danny Welbeck (Sunderland - on loan from Manchester United)[LNB] Everton star Rodwell good enough to play for England, insists catpain NevilleWilshere call-up inspires Rodwell to become England's next Jack the lad [LNB]
