Senior service awaits but Pearce outlines immediate requirements

The sight of James Milner buzzing up and down the left wing at the iconic Maracana Stadium on Sunday should have filled each of the 23 men tasked with winning the European Under-21s Championship for England over the next few weeks with hope.

For if there is one man who epitomises how integral the pathway from age-group football to full honours has become in England, it is the 27-year-old from Leeds.

Sunday’s draw in Rio de Janeiro was Milner’s 35th cap for England, while the 46 games he played for the Under-21s from 2004 to 2009 remains a national record.

He is not alone in progressing along England’s age-grade conveyor belt.

Thirteen of the 14 players that Roy Hodgson fielded in Brazil – including Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain who made a goalscoring cameo – all followed the same path as Milner. Only Wayne Rooney was fast-tracked to senior honours.

While Milner now has his sights set on a return to the South American heartland of football for next year’s World Cup, the focus of Stuart Pearce’s 23-man squad is on this month’s Euro Under-21s in Israel.

The chance to follow Milner and company into the senior team may be something for the future, with this biennial tournament gaining in importance with each renewal for Pearce’s Young Lions.

Not only does it present the opportunity to play for a big prize, it also provides valuable tournament experience for future senior players.

The fact that England have a recent history to be proud of enhances its appeal.

Semi-finalists in 2007 and finalists two years later in Milner’s last appearance, Pearce has become adept at steering his team to the cusp of major honours.

Equally, and perhaps unsurprisingly given England’s chequered tournament history at senior level, he knows the heartache that comes from a failed campaign. Two years ago his side were unable to get out of the group stage in Denmark.

“We set up to win that tournament and that is the only message they (the players) will hear from me again this time,” said Pearce ahead of his fourth major tournament as Under-21s boss.

England should fancy their chances. They open tomorrow against Italy in Tel Aviv, before travelling east to Petah Tikva to face Norway on Saturday, and then south to meet hosts Israel in Jerusalem next Tuesday.

On paper, it is an easier collection of nations than Group B which consists of Russia, Holland and the last two winners of the championship, not to mention the dominant forces in world senior football, Germany and Spain.

“The reports that we have had on the Spanish are that they are extremely strong,” added Pearce.

“The Germans will be strong also. If you were to ask me who are favourites in our group, I’d say Italy.”

While the England team of 2009 had a smattering of senior-team experience to call upon – Milner, Theo Walcott, Joe Hart – only Jordan Henderson resembles close to an established international four years on.

Wilfried Zaha, one of four players with one full cap to his name, is a doubt for tomorrow’s opener with Italy with an ankle injury.

He sat out training yesterday with Pearce stating: “We’ll have another look at him (today) and see where he is with regards to his fitness. But we shouldn’t have a problem.”

The squad is enriched by a sprinkling of young men for whom time in Yorkshire helped shape them.

Doncaster-born Tottenham defender Danny Rose has been a regular in Pearce’s squads for the last four years, including last summer’s Great Britain Olympic team. Middlesbrough goalkeeper Jason Steele was another Olympian last summer and is Pearce’s No 2.

And one man who has emerged as a key member of the Under-21s squad is Leeds United defender Tom Lees, who has never been on the losing side in his five caps to date.

“It’s a real opportunity to show what you can do and hopefully we can do well,” said Lees.

“We have got some top players in the team and we should be going there to win it and to not be intimidated by anyone.”

For the 22-year-old, his international experiences have enhanced his club form, and for that he owes a debt of gratitude to Pearce.

“He comes across the way you’d imagine he would from watching him on the television and the way he played,” said Lees.

“He had a great attitude and a great way of approaching football. He really motivates the lads to express themselves just as he did on the pitch, by giving 110 per cent every game.”

Connor Wickham – who spent the end of the season on loan at Sheffield Wednesday – added: “We’ve got strength in every position and there isn’t anyone we cannot beat.”