Manchester City midfielder Michael Johnson has been called up to the England Under 21 squad to play Portugal.
But Walcott and Wilshere miss out with injuries
Manchester City midfielder Michael Johnson has been called up to the England Under 21 squad to play Portugal.
Pearce opted to recall Johnson after he recently returned from a long-term abdominal problem, but Arsenal duo Theo Walcott and Jack Wilshere miss out on the crunch Wembley tie through injury.
The Under 21s sit in second spot in their 2011 UEFA European Qualifying Group, with two games in hand over leaders Greece, and will be hoping for another win against Portugal on November 14 before they travel to Lithuania three days later.
"Jack (Wilshere) came in at the start of this season with a substitute appearance in Holland and has since had a couple of starts doing very well in each game, so he'll be disappointed he's missed this one that's for sure," Pearce said.
"I'd think anyone that's unfortunate enough to miss out in this squad will be very disappointed. But we'll be monitoring Jack and Theo's (Walcott) situations.
Recover
"If they recover a little bit quicker than expected, then we might review the squad - but it's a shame for them.
"On the other side of things Michael Johnson has had a massive absence from injury for a long, long time, so being in the squad will be a big lift for him."
The game will be only the third time the U21s have played at Wembley, and Pearce will be hoping the 30,000 strong crowd can spur them onto victory.
"Coming here it gives the game a little bit more significance, if it needed it," he added.
"The important thing is to give these players the experience of Wembley. It's served us well in the past with the likes of Agbonlahor and Milner, who have since gone on to the senior squad.
"This is why we're doing it, so these young players get a feel for the national stadium and what it's like, so hopefully sometime in the future a few of these will be stepping out for the seniors."
England U21 squad to play Portugal and Lithuania:
Frankie Fielding, Scott Loach, Alex McCarthy, Ryan Bertrand, Kieran Gibbs, Michael Mancienne, Kyle Naughton, Micah Richards, James Tomkins, Chris Smalling, Tom Cleverley, Jack Cork, Fabien Delph, Michael Johnson, Fabrice Muamba, Jack Rodwell, Danny Rose, Junior Stanislas, Andy Carroll, Zavon Hines, Daniel Sturridge, Danny Welbeck
