Fresh faces for Pearce

01 October 2009 19:01
Stuart Pearce has included two new faces in his England squad to face Macedonia in Coventry next week. Pearce has called up Chelsea defender Sam Hutchinson for the 2011 UEFA European Championship qualifier while West Ham forward Zavon Hines is also included. Pearce's young lions take on the Macedonians in Group 9 on 9th October at the Ricoh Arena in their third game of the campaign with Arsenal's Jack Wilshire and Everton's Jack Rodwell also included. After good words from England Under 19 head coach Brian Eastick and Chelsea captain John Terry, Pearce decided 20-year-old Hutchinson was ready for the call-up. "I went to see Sam play in the League Cup against QPR and he played very well," Pearce said. "I've had good reports on him at the younger age groups from Brian Eastick and I also spoke to John Terry about him and his character and he spoke very highly of him. "He's in on merit that's for sure and I think he'll add something to our squad. "He's been out for a long time with injury and if he hadn't been injured then he'd have probably been in our squad a while ago. "It's a great opportunity for him, not just at Chelsea, but with us having a look at him for the Under-21s." The 24-man squad also sees the return of Micah Richards, Ryan Bertrand, Fabian Delph and Andy Carroll, who all missed the opening fixtures last month when the Under-21s started their campaign to reach Euro 2011. England picked up four points from their opening two games, with an away win in Macedonia followed by a draw in Greece, but Pearce insists three points is essential this time. "We were fortunate enough to win the first game. I don't think we played particularly well on the day in very, very hot conditions, but we came out of it with the win in the end," he said. "We have to make sure we capitalise on the game at home next week. If we want to be serious contenders in getting out of the group, we know we have to go at them and get all three points." Meanwhile, the Under 21s have been awarded a Wembley date against Portugal Under 21s in their qualifier on November 14. Full squad:Frankie Fielding (Leeds, on loan from Blackburn), Scott Loach (Watford), Alex McCarthy (Yeovil), Ryan Bertrand (Reading), Kieran Gibbs (Arsenal), Sam Hutchinson (Chelsea), Michael Mancienne (Wolves), Kyle Naughton (Tottenham), Micah Richards (Manchester City), James Tomkins (West Ham), Chris Smalling (Fulham), Lee Cattermole (Sunderland), Tom Cleverley (Watford), Jack Cork (Coventry), Fabien Delph (Aston Villa), Fabrice Muamba (Bolton), Jack Rodwell (Everton), Danny Rose (Peterborough), Junior Stanislas (West Ham), Jack Wilshere (Arsenal), Andy Carroll (Newcastle), Zavon Hines (West Ham), Daniel Sturridge (Chelsea), Danny Welbeck (Manchester United).

Source: SKY_Sports