Sunderland forward Frazier Campbell is the surprise inclusion and Arsenal winger Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain misses out along with Chelsea midfielder Frank Lampard.
We are quietly impressed with Stuart Pearce’s first England squad, all in all.
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Michael Carrick, Frank Lampard and Rio Ferdinand are among those who have missed out, but Joleon Lescott is the most glaring omission.
Lescott is showing the sort of form for City which convince them to spend £22 million on him in the first place, and should have been a shoe-in.
Nevertheless the game is only a friendly, and there will be a new manager for Lescott to convince when Euro 2012 comes around.
Pearce knows all about the importance of the under-21s to a player’s progression, so it is likely for this reason he has not put Oxlade-Chamberlain in the squad, and it also keeps the pressure and spotlight away from the youngster.
Seeing Micah Richards back in the squad is great news, why he was left out under Capello was a great mystery. The pressure is on Gary Cahill after a shaky start at Chelsea and this should be a confidence boost for him.
In midfield Stewart Downing is perhaps a surprise considering his poor form so far this season. It is also good to see the talented Tom Cleverley in the squad, with Jack Wilshere injured, he could be the ideal replacement if the Arsenal man does not make the Euros.
The biggest name to miss out is Frank Lampard, which will please many supporters who feel he does not merit a place.
He has had a poor season for Chelsea so far and does not deserve to be in the squad on merit.
Frazier Campbell is the shock inclusion up front, in two games for Sunderland since his career-ending injury he has scored twice and provided one assist.
Pearce obviously wants to take a look at him, and it will be a great boost for the player. If he goes onto be an England regular, Pearce has ensured he will always be the manager remembered for handing him his first cap.
He has picked six players, Smalling, Walker, Jones, Cleverley, Welbeck and Sturridge from his under-21 squad last summer, and they all deserve to be in there on merit.
It does not have to be all doom and gloom ahead of the Euros, the future is bright, and this friendly against Holland will be the start of a new dawn.
Full squad: Scott Carson, Joe Hart, Robert Green; Gary Cahill, Ashley Cole, Leighton Baines, Glen Johnson, Phil Jones, Micah Richards, Chris Smalling, Kyle Walker; Gareth Barry, Tom Cleverley, Stewart Downing, Adam Johnson, Steven Gerrard, James Milner, Scott Parker, Ashley Young, Theo Walcott; Darren Bent, Frazier Campbell, Daniel Sturridge, Wayne Rooney and Danny Welbeck.
What do you think of the squad?
image: © whereareyousimon
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