Stuart Pearce backs his youngsters to gatecrash England's World Cup squad

Stuart Pearce is hoping at least five of his former Under-21s starlets can gatecrash England’s World Cup squad next summer.

The Under-21 boss has seen the likes of Tottenham’s Tom Huddlestone, Villa duo Ashley Young and James Milner, Bolton’s Gary Cahill and Birmingham’s loan keeper Joe Hart earn call-ups into Fabio Capello’s senior squad.

Pearce’s new crop of youngsters take on Portugal at Wembley in tomorrow’s important Group Nine qualifier for the 2011 European Championships and the boss said: “We have to be successful at this age group, that’s our real driver. With the modicum of success we get we know we will get players into the seniors. That is a real focus.

“We want to get players through who have a rounded education like the Milners, Huddlestones.

“Nothing would please me more than to have four or five Under-21 players from this summer being on that plane to South Africa next summer.

“Form will dictate that, there will be no favouritism from Fabio, that’s for sure. But the one thing you can guarantee that the boys who have come through the Under-21 system will know exactly what a big tournament will be like, even if they have never been to an Under-21 or major final.”