Duo pull out of U21 clash

Gabriel Agbonlahor and Micah Richards have pulled out of Stuart Pearce's England Under 21 squad with hamstring strains. The pair linked up with their U21 team-mates earlier this week but have now returned to Aston Villa and Manchester City respectively.Both players are full internationals and would have hoped to have made Fabio Capello's senior squad but have fallen down the Italian's pecking order of late."Both players arrived with injuries and have had treatment with the medical staff, but they have not responded to treatment," said a Football Association spokesman. "They have now been sent back to their respective clubs as a precautionary measure."England play Norway in Sandefjord on Friday evening before facing France in midweek at Nottingham Forest's City Ground.Theo Walcott, Steven Taylor, Ryan Shawcross and Sylvan Ebanks-Blake have already withdrawn from Pearce's plans, while Aaron Lennon has been elevated to the senior squad.

Source: SKY_Sports