Sam Allardyce's first England XI predicted by Stuart Pearce

Last Updated: 25/07/16 2:40pm

Stuart Pearce wants England to take youth tournaments more seriously

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Stuart Pearce wants England to take youth tournaments more seriously
Stuart Pearce wants England to take youth tournaments more seriously

Who will new England manager Sam Allardyce pick in his first line-up? Sky Sports pundit Stuart Pearce has selected the side he thinks the new boss will select.

Allardyce, who was confirmed in his role as England head coach on Friday, kicks off his competitive tenure in charge of the national team with a trip to take on Slovakia in World Cup qualifying on September 4.

However, after England's disappointing showing at the European Championship in France - where Roy Hodgson's side were eliminated by Iceland in the last 16 - many are expecting big changes when England start off on the road to Russia 2018.

Pearce, who was capped 78 times by his country between 1987 and 1999 before going on to coach the England U21s for six years, thinks Allardyce may spring a surprise or two when he names his starting XI for the visit to Trnava.

This is the first line-up Stuart Pearce thinks Sam Allardyce will go with

"Is John Terry going to be his Kevin Nolan, somebody in the dressing room to be that enforcer? His form last year? Good. Leadership? He certainly has that in abundance.

Stuart Pearce believes new England boss Sam Allardyce will try and lure former captain John Terry out of international retirement

"I think there are a lot of players in the England squad at the moment, but it is a toss of a coin really. [Daniel] Sturridge or [Danny] Welbeck, who do you pick? Is [Raheem] Sterling going to be on form?

"The thing with Welbeck and [Andros] Townsend is they have not been tainted with what has gone on this summer.

"How much of a hangover from the players who played in that Iceland game, and who received criticism, is there is going to be. I do not know.

Players such as Andros Townsend may benefit from having not gone to Euro 2016, says Stuart Pearce

"I am so interested to see his first squad, to see which players are picked. Andy Carroll, Danny Drinkwater, Townsend have all been mentioned, for instance, players that did not go this summer for varying reasons of form, fitness or favour.

"Is Terry going to be his Nolan, somebody in the dressing room to be that enforcer?"

Stuart Pearce

"If you are asking me to throw a name out that has got good international experience and who has not been near a squad yet, then I would say Mark Noble.

"He knows him first hand from West Ham. And he may be a touch better as an international midfielder, in regard to game management and that sort of thing, than he is as a Premier League player.

West Ham United captain Mark Noble could be a left-field pick by Sam Allardyce, according to Stuart Pearce

"And he has got a vast amount of experience, he leads West Ham, he has been captain for a number of years and as I say, he is a top kid that is desperate to play for England.

"So he may be one if Sam has seen something in him at West Ham and the fact that Sam has worked with him on a daily basis might be a plus for Mark."