Stuart Pearce picks his England squad for Euro 2016

By Oliver Yew

Stuart Pearce was in the Sky Sports News HQ studio and picked his 23-man England squad for Euro 2016

Ahead of Roy Hodgson's England squad announcement on Thursday, we asked Sky Sports Now guest Stuart Pearce to pick the 23-man squad he would take to Euro 2016.

Notable inclusions are Leigton Baines, Michael Carrick and Jordan Henderson, while Daniel Sturridge gets the nod up front alongside Wayne Rooney, Harry Kane and Jamie Vardy.

However, there is no place for Arsenal midfielder Jack Wilshere in what is the most notable omission from the former England U21 manager's squad.

Image: Former England U21 boss Pearce named his squad on Sky Sports Now

Here is who Pearce has included...

Goalkeepers: Joe Hart (Manchester City), Fraser Forster (Southampton), Tom Heaton (Burnley)

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Pearce says: "Joe Hart is the standout No 1. The only thing I would say is that I would've liked to have seen Jack Butland available to push him. I think Jack's getting closer and closer to Joe, but the City stopper is the No 1. He's the standout goalkeeper and fingers crossed, he doesn't get injured.

Image: Joe Hart is joined by Fraser Forster and Tom Heaton in Pearce's squad

"Not just for Tom, but Fraser as well, these two individuals will probably know they won't actually play a game unless he gets injured, suspended or really suffers from a bad dip in form. It's important their mentality is spot on to support Joe because nobody else in the squad will go with that mentality of not playing. These two will but they have to support the No 1."

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Defenders: Nathaniel Clyne (Liverpool), Kyle Walker (Tottenham), John Stones (Everton), Chris Smalling (Manchester United), Gary Cahill (Chelsea), Phil Jagielka (Everton), Leighton Baines (Everton), Danny Rose (Tottenham).

VOTE: Euro defenders

Which defenders should England take to Euro 2016? Have your say here...

Pearce says: "Leighton Baines has got a lot of tournament experience. I still think he's an outstanding full-back. Danny Rose has just gone past him ability-wise and I think he will start, but it was a tough call. We've had a lot of left-backs over the year with Keiran Gibbs and Ryan Bertrand also playing for England, and they are all pushing for the position. I just went with Baines' experience.

"My starting two at this moment in time at the heart of the defence are Chris Smalling and Gary Cahill."

Midfielders: Eric Dier (Tottenham), Michael Carrick (Manchester United), Jordan Henderson (Liverpool), James Milner (Liverpool), Ross Barkley (Everton), Dele Alli (Tottenham), Raheem Sterling (Manchester City), Adam Lallana (Liverpool).

Image: Pearce thinks Michael Carrick should go to Euro 2016

Pearce says: "Before the weekend just gone, I would have totally ruled Jack Wilshere out of the squad because I know the politics between Arsenal and The FA in regard to Jack going on international duty and getting injured. He's not started a game for a year, which is a long time.

"Having watched the Arsenal game at the weekend, I think Wilshere's very close to the squad. He played very well and he seemed to fit seamlessly back into side and got 70-odd minutes under his belt. That's a judgement call for Roy.

Image: Jack Wilshere is the notable omission from Stuart Pearce's 23-man England squad

"I also think Michael Carrick's form has been good and the one thing I've got on my mind is if Eric Dier, who will start as the holding midfield player, is let down by form or injury, who will start in front of the back four?

"I don' think we've got many options to do it but I think Carrick can do it. That's why he's in my squad."

Image: Pearce thinks Harry Kane and Jamie Vardy should start in attack for England

Strikers: Harry Kane (Tottenham), Jamie Vardy (Leicester), Wayne Rooney (Manchester United), Daniel Sturridge (Liverpool).

Pearce says: "My proviso would be: play the players that are on form. When I look through the whole squad, who is on form? Joe Hart, Danny Rose, Eric Dier, Dele Alli, Jamie Vardy and Harry Kane. Those six are our form players. That lends itself to playing a diamond and we may have to go down that route.

'England's best striker'

Should Daniel Sturridge start ahead of Harry Kane and Jamie Vardy?

"Where we had a lot of good wide players over the last year, all of a sudden Sterling can't get in the team and Alex Oxlade-Chamerlain is injured. Andros Townsend may be an outside bet because he's come back in and has been playing football recently. For me, you have to get the two in outstanding form playing together. Whether you play Rooney in behind them I don't know."

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