Source: Daily_Mail
James Tomkins wants good England show Iceland
Defender James Tomkins is hoping England Under 21s can make another statement of intent when they take on their Iceland counterparts in a friendly in Preston.[LNB]Stuart Pearce's side failed to score in consecutive defeats by Germany and Italy after qualifying for this summer's European Championships last October but put those results behind them with a thumping 4-0 win over Denmark last week.[LNB]The clash at Deepdale against another of the teams who will participate in the championship finals will be England's penultimate fixture before the start of the tournament in Denmark in June.[LNB] Fierce competition: Tomkins is hoping to cement his place in the England Under-21 side[LNB]'I think Iceland will be quite a big team, a physical team but we're playing at home and that will be nice. Deepdale's a good stadium and hopefully the pitch will work for us,' Tomkins told FATV. [LNB]'With the support I think we can show what sort of things we can expect in the (European) Championship. It's a good bunch of lads and I think with the team that we've got we're definitely going to be in with a shout.'[LNB]Tomkins played all but the first five minutes of the win in Denmark after coming on for injured captain Micah Richards and he is hoping to again show the form that has helped West Ham move out of the Barclays Premier League relegation zone.[LNB]The 21-year-old added: 'I've been playing a lot of games for West Ham and enjoying it and gaining experience there. I think I've been playing well so hopefully I can take that into international level as well.'[LNB]Thin on the ground: Stuart Pearce will be without several star names[LNB]England, runners-up to Germany in the European Championships two years ago, are currently rated the best team in Europe but tonight's side will be shorn of a number of star names.[LNB]Jordan Henderson, Danny Welbeck, Chris Smalling, Fabrice Muamba andDaniel Sturridge have all been allowed to return to their clubs whileRichards, Frankie Fielding and Kieran Gibbs are injured.[LNB]JordanSpence, Ben Amos, Adam Hammill and Jordan Mutch have been added to thesquad and will hope to be given the chance to stake a late claim to beincluded this summer.[LNB]Another youngster desperate for anopportunity is 17-year-old Connor Wickham, who scored the winning goalfor England Under-17s in their European Championship final triumph overSpain last summer.[LNB]The Ipswich striker, who was a late substitutein Denmark, said: 'It would be another summer tournament and I'd wantto win another summer tournament. It would be difficult but if we playto the potential that's in our team then we can beat anyone on the day.[LNB]'Ijust want to keep playing football, and I want to play football at thehighest level. I'm with England now and I want to show the gaffer andeveryone else what I'm capable of to be in the mindset for the summerand for future England games.'[LNB] Martin Samuel: England must take on clubs and ensure young Lions are in it to win itEngland U21 manager Pearce releases five players ahead of Iceland clashDenmark U21 0 England U21 4: Micah's injury mars Young Lions rompYou're kidding: Wilshere and Carroll caught up in club-versus-country row [LNB] Explore more:People: Adam Hammill, Danny Welbeck, Fabrice Muamba, Stuart Pearce Places: Germany, Italy, Denmark, United Kingdom, Europe
