Arsenal forward Theo Walcott and Tottenham winger Aaron Lennon have both been named in England's Under-21 squad for the friendly double header against Norway and France during the next international break.
Walcott, who is established in Fabio Capello's senior squad, has only just recovered from a shoulder injury picked up with the full team in November.
The 20-year-old could still be called up for senior duty, as happened with James Milner for the recent Spain trip after initially being named in Stuart Pearce's squad.
Capello's team have a friendly against Slovakia on Saturday, March 28 and a World Cup qualifier against Ukraine the following Wednesday, with Pearce's youngsters playing the day before each game.
Milner is also in Pearce's squad, who travel to face Norway in Sandefjord before playing France at Nottingham Forest's City Ground.
Joe Hart, Michael Mancienne, Micah Richards and David Wheater are also included along with Lennon, who has been in impressive form for Tottenham and had been widely expected to be handed a senior call-up.
Everton youngster Jack Rodwell is also selected.
"We wanted to take on a Scandinavian side as we've got Finland in the European Championships so Norway was a good option," Pearce said.
"On top of that we wanted another 'A-line' nation that hadn't reached the finals and they don't come much better than France, so it's a fantastic game for us.
"The two games will give us a full 10 days to work together. We can work on various things, both in the games and on the training pitch.
"It's not often you get the chance to have that length of time with the players and it'll be a vital period to prepare for the summer." (telegraph)
Walcott, who is established in Fabio Capello's senior squad, has only just recovered from a shoulder injury picked up with the full team in November.
The 20-year-old could still be called up for senior duty, as happened with James Milner for the recent Spain trip after initially being named in Stuart Pearce's squad.
Capello's team have a friendly against Slovakia on Saturday, March 28 and a World Cup qualifier against Ukraine the following Wednesday, with Pearce's youngsters playing the day before each game.
Milner is also in Pearce's squad, who travel to face Norway in Sandefjord before playing France at Nottingham Forest's City Ground.
Joe Hart, Michael Mancienne, Micah Richards and David Wheater are also included along with Lennon, who has been in impressive form for Tottenham and had been widely expected to be handed a senior call-up.
Everton youngster Jack Rodwell is also selected.
"We wanted to take on a Scandinavian side as we've got Finland in the European Championships so Norway was a good option," Pearce said.
"On top of that we wanted another 'A-line' nation that hadn't reached the finals and they don't come much better than France, so it's a fantastic game for us.
"The two games will give us a full 10 days to work together. We can work on various things, both in the games and on the training pitch.
"It's not often you get the chance to have that length of time with the players and it'll be a vital period to prepare for the summer." (telegraph)
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