England Under-21s coach Stuart Pearce has revealed that he will call up Arsenal midfielder Jack Wilshere for the European Championship in 2013.

The 20-year-old, who missed the Euros for the Under-21s in 2011 because he played too much football in the 2010-11 season, is currently on his way to full recovery from a long-term injury.

"Look at Tom Cleverley for example, who's had an Olympic experience and international tournament experience," Pearce is quoted as saying in the Daily Mail.

'It's the same with Steven Caulker and one or two others; going to the major tournaments will stand them in great stead because as we stand at the moment we've still got a scenario with the likes of Jack Wilshere, because of his injury and whatever, he's not been to a major tournament with England yet.

"All of a sudden he's approaching his 20th birthday and I don't know when the next opportunity of a major tournament will be for him - next summer, the summer after?"

Pearce added that playing in the Euros for the Under-21s next year will help Wilshere prepare for a major international competition with the senior team.

"The more tournament football these boys can get the more it prepares them for the senior team and it also gives us the opportunity to vie for a major trophy at Under-21 level because if you don't get to these tournaments then you can't win them," he said.

England Under-21s qualified for Euro 2013 with a 1-0 win against Serbia on Tuesday.

Written by
Subhankar Mondal