Pearce says he would manage England at Euro 2012, if asked

Feb 23, 2012, 13:15 GMT

London - England interim manager Stuart Pearce says he would take charge of the team for this summer's Euro 2012 tournament if asked.

On Thursday, Pearce named a youthful-looking squad for a friendly international against the Netherlands next week, with no place for Frank Lampard and Rio Ferdinand.

Pearce became interim manager when Fabio Capello quit after the FA stripped John Terry of the captaincy following news that his trial for alleged racist abuse of another player was delayed until after the Euro tournament from June 8 until July 1 in Poland and Ukraine.

And though England are determined to fill the vacant manager's job before long, Pearce said he would be ready and willing.

'I am available and I have tournament experience if they (the FA) need me to step into the breach in the summer,' he said at a press conference at Wembley.

'That is obviously a decision for the employees here. They know exactly where I am, they know exactly what I want to do.

'If they need me to take the squad in the summer I will do that with pleasure. If they need me to coach a manager that is coming through the door, I will do that with pleasure as well.

'Beyond that, at this moment in time, I consider myself after the summer the Team GB manager and under 21 manager.'

Pearce had indicated that he would rest a few established players and test out a few youngsters against the Dutch, runners-up at the last World Cup, for the Wembley clash on Wednesday.

Manchester City defender Micah Richards was recalled to the squad and there was a surprise first call-up for Sunderland striker Frazier Campbell.

Arsenal's Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, part of the under-21 squad and tipped for a place, was left out while John Terry is unavailable through injury.

Manchester City defender Joleon Lescott was among those who were told they would not be playing in the match.

Pearce did not name a captain for the friendly but Liverpool midfielder Steven Gerrard is the favourite for the job.

The interim manager said the friendly was the perfect opportunity to get a look at some fresh faces.

'My mentality going into the game was 'what would I need to learn as a manager going into a major tournament this summer and what would the possible next manager looking from afar need to learn about individuals?'' he said.

'I know Frank (Lampard) and John (Terry) and other senior players and wouldn't learn anything from watching them play on Wednesday.

'But I might learn something from watching one or two of the other individuals about whether they are going to be good enough to serve England in the summer.'

Squad:

Goalkeepers: Scott Carson (Bursaspor), Joe Hart (Manchester City), Robert Green (West Ham)

Defenders: Gary Cahill (Chelsea), Ashley Cole (Chelsea), Leighton Baines (Everton), Glen Johnson (Liverpool), Phil Jones (Manchester United), Micah Richards (Manchester City), Chris Smalling (Manchester United), Kyle Walker (Tottenham Hotspur)

Midfielders: Gareth Barry (Manchester City), Tom Cleverley (Manchester United), Stewart Downing (Liverpool), Adam Johnson (Manchester City), Steven Gerrard (Liverpool), James Milner (Manchester City), Scott Parker (Tottenham Hotspur), Ashley Young (Manchester United), Theo Walcott (Arsenal)

Forwards: Darren Bent (Aston Villa), Frazier Campbell (Sunderland), Daniel Sturridge (Chelsea), Wayne Rooney (Manchester United), Danny Welbeck (Manchester United)

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