Hart stays in U21 squad

Hart: U21 place

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Joe Hart remains in the England U21 squad for the friendly international against Poland U21 at Molineux next Tuesday.

Hart's impressive displays for Manchester City had seen him tipped for a call-up to the full senior squad, with Fabio Capello admitting his admiration for the young shot-stopper.

But, despite Stuart Pearce resting a number of his established players, Hart is expected to start in goal against the Poles.

Steven Taylor, Tom Huddlestone, Theo Walcott and Mark Noble were not included in Pearce's 20-man squad, while James Milner is out through injury.

France

Gabriel Agbonlahor was included in Capello's first squad against Switzerland last month, and the youngsters Pearce has rested could be called up for the senior side's clash with France on 26th March.

Tottenham winger Aaron Lennon was another not included by Pearce, but Nedum Onuoha was selected and is likely to be named captain.

Matt Derbyshire returns after missing the win over the Republic of Ireland as his partner was set to give birth to twins.

City midfielder Michael Johnson is back from injury and Pearce will also have a look at Fraizer Campbell, the Manchester United striker on loan at Hull.

Pearce insists his selection policy is purely based on building an U21 squad strong enough to challenge in the European U21 Championships.

England U21s are currently nine points clear at the top of their qualifying group having won six of their seven matches so far.

Plan

Pearce told Sky Sports News: "I've got a long-term eye on going to the championships in 15 months. I've got to plan for that.

"There's no point going there with 12 or 13 players that are vastly experienced that I know can do a job for me. If I lose any one of them I need to know whoever is going to come into the squad can handle international football.

"One or two of the boys that have been very patient around the squad that have not got a great deal of football are going to get the opportunity to play.

"It's a bonus that we've got ourselves in the position that we have in the qualifying group in this moment in time.

"I've left one or two out that are playing regularly for their clubs, if I did play them next week, I'm not going to learn anything by it. I know what Taylor can do and I know what Milner can do.

"One or two others that have been patient, and one or two that haven't even been in the squad before are going to come in and it gives me a chance to meet them and see what they can do playing for their country."

England Under-21 squad: J Hart (Man City), T Heaton (Man Utd), S Dann (Coventry), D Fox (Coventry), C Gardner (A Villa), M Mancienne (QPR), J Mattock (Leicester), N Onuoha (Man City), R Shawcross (Stoke), L Cattermole (Middlesbrough), A Johnson (Middlesbrough), M Johnson (Man City), G Leadbitter (Sunderland), J O'Hara (Tottenham), A Surman (Southampton), F Campbell (Hull), M Derbyshire (Blackburn), C Jerome (Birmingham), I Miller (West Brom), L Moore (WBA).