Newcastle´s Taylor out of Under21 squad with injury

Newcastle centre-half Steven Taylor on Monday withdrew from the England Under-21 squad to face Slovenia on Tuesdayafter suffering an ankle injury in the draw with Manchester United the previous day at Old Trafford.

Taylor was hurt in a collision with United goalscorer Darren Fletcher during the match and requires treatment which will sideline him for the match in Hull, where several players will be out to show they merit promotion to the seniors.

Under21 coach Stuart Pearce said he believes his squad is one of the strongest he has ever had, with several having been involved with the senior squad.

They include Aston Villa striker Gabriel Agbonlahor, who blasted a hat-trick against Manchester City at the weekend, and Pearce called on his side to show senior coach Fabio Capello what they are made of.

“It’s a very strong squad on paper and now we need to deliver a performance which indicates that strength,” Pearce said.

Agbonlahor freely admitted after his treble he was frustrated at missing out on the full squad, who face the Czech Republic at Wembley on Wednesday, telling reporters he would have a point to prove.

“It is obviously disappointing not to be selected and you want to be playing for your country. But if Mr Capello doesn’t put you in the squad then we have to go out and prove him wrong.

“Mr Capello does come to Villa quite a lot and I am not going to give up.

“But I want to play for my country. I’ve played for the under-21s and I want to be in the full squad, I want to get on the pitch and play and hopefully I can do that.”

Pearce agreed that some players had a good case for senior inclusion.

“But as soon as the squad is picked, and if you’re in the under-21 side, you should be ready to roll your sleeves up and think, ‘I must do well in this squad’.

“It is important that players view international football – whether it be for the under-21 side or the seniors – as an education.”

“There are five of six boys who arguably could be in the senior squad but for them to sit on the bench against the Czech Republic for the senior squad is probably a bit counter-productive,” said Pearce.