Pardew backs Chamberlain for Euros

Newcastle manager Alan Pardew is backing Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain to make the England squad for the European Championships in June.

Pardew worked with Oxlade-Chamberlain at Southampton and saw first-hand the talent the Arsenal midfielder possesses.

“Chamberlain should go with England to Euro 2012,” Pardew told The Mirror.

“He’s an absolutely outstanding player. I had him at Southampton, and gave him his debut at 16.”

Concerns have been raised that the hype surrounding an England call-up might affect Oxlade-Chamberlain, but Pardew is convinced the 18-year-old will not get carried away.

“He’s got good family behind him and he’s a player who not only is going to be a good advert for English football in terms of his ability, but as a person as well,” Pardew said.

“He’ll be a great ­ambassador for the country.”

Theo Walcott, another ex-Southampton youngster, grabbed headlines with a surprise inclusion for the 2006 World Cup, but Pardew insists Oxlade-Chamberlain is in better shape to make an early step up to international football than his Arsenal teammate.

“Physically I think he’s better developed for it than Theo Walcott was when he went to the World Cup,” Pardew said.

“Whether he gets enough match-time in the next 11 games to go to the Championships, Arsene Wenger will be the one to decide that.”

“He didn’t have that same physical strength at Southampton, not so much. But now you can see he’s physically a little bit bigger.”

Newcastle face Arsenal on Monday and Pardew is expecting a tough game, conceding his side were lucky to avoid defeat in their previous encounter.

“I thought we were fortunate to get a 0-0 draw when we played Arsenal at the start of the season. But we just did enough to get the draw,” Pardew said.

“I think they’re a different team now.”

“It was well documented at the start of the season they had players coming in at the last minute and they were all over the place.”

“Now they are starting to get themselves sorted and the younger players are playing with confidence.”

“If the rumours are true, Arsene Wenger has money to spend in the summer, you have to say they’re perhaps only one or two players away.”

“They’ve obviously got issues with Robin van Persie they need to resolve, but they’re close to being challengers for the title next season in my ­opinion.”