Source: Northern_Echo
Sunderland youngster back in Under-21s
SUNDERLAND midfielder Jordan Henderson has been omitted from the senior England squad for next week's friendly in Denmark.[LNB] Henderson, who won his maiden senior international cap as Fabio Capello's side slumped to a 2-1 home defeat to France in November, has dropped back into the Under-21 squad for next Tuesday's friendly with Italy.[LNB] Stuart Pearce has also selected Middlesbrough full-back Joe Bennett, who is involved at Under-21 level for the first time, and Boro goalkeeper Jason Steele.[LNB] Henderson's demotion was widely expected, despite the Sunderland-born midfielder having made his senior bow less than three months ago.[LNB] Capello named an extremely youthful squad for the France friendly, but with next Wednesday's game in Copenhagen serving as a warm-up for March's European Championships qualifier in Wales, the England boss will select a greater proportion of more experienced players.[LNB] Henderson is one of the more notable absentees, and will instead drop back down to Pearce's squad for a friendly in Empoli.[LNB] The 20-year-old has still only won five Under-21 caps, and Capello is keen to see him gain more experience at that level before another elevation to the senior squad.[LNB] Henderson is the only Sunderland player to have played in every Premier League match this season, but has struggled to produce his best form in the last month or so.[LNB] Bennett's selection is something of a surprise, but merely underlines how much progress the Northallerton-based full-back has made this season.[LNB] Bennett, who was part of the Under-19s squad at the 2009 European Championships, was repeatedly overlooked by Gordon Strachan, but has started Boro's last 14 league games under Tony Mowbray and repeatedly caught the eye.[LNB] We're missing a number of players through injury, but it will give me a chance to look at a few new players, said Pearce. Jay Rodriguez has been playing well for Burnley and deserves an opportunity with the Under-21s, likewise Joe Bennett at Middlesbrough has previously played for the Under-19s and his performances for Tony Mowbray have been impressive.[LNB] Newton Aycliffe-born Steele will hope to win his second Under-21 cap as part of a squad that also includes Kieran Gibbs, Micah Richards and highly-rated Southampton youngster Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.[LNB] The 17-year-old Oxlade- Chamberlain was reportedly a target for Manchester United and Arsenal during the transfer window.[LNB] Pearce said: I saw Southampton play Manchester United in The FA Cup on Saturday and Alex Chamberlain is showing a lot of promise so we thought we'd bring him into the squad.''[LNB] Squad: Fielding (Blackburn), Loach (Watford), Steele (Middlesbrough); Bennett (Middlesbrough), Gibbs (Arsenal), Kelly (Liverpool), Mee, Richards (both Manchester City), Smalling (Manchester United), Tomkins (West Ham), Walker (Tottenham); Albrighton (Aston Villa), Cork (Chelsea), Delph (Aston Villa), Oxlade-Chamberlain (Southampton), Henderson (Sunderland), Lansbury (Arsenal), Muamba (Bolton), Rodwell (Everton), Sinclair (Swansea); Delfouneso (Aston Villa), Rodriguez (Burnley), Sturridge (Chelsea).[LNB]
