England’s youngsters travel to Denmark this week for the European Under-21 Championships (England 9/4 second favourites tournament outright) but before they have even left manager Stuart Pearce has found himself in the middle of a row over the selection of key players, most notably Arsenal star Jack Wilshere.

The 19-year-old was a regular in the Arsenal team last season, making 49 appearances and picking up the PFA Young Player of the Year award. He also became a regular fixture in the full England side following a successful first start against Denmark in February.

He would have been a great asset for Pearce’s side, adding creativity and guile to the centre of midfield as well as vital experience following his exploits in the Champions League for Arsenal and with Fabio Capello’s senior squad.

Wilshere had previously stated his desire to compete in the tournament and was named in Pearce’s initial 40-man squad, much to his club’s dismay.

The Gunners have been against Wilshere’s inclusion all along and went as far as sending England a medical report showing his increasing fatigue throughout the season and the risk of serious injury and burn-out should he play on into the summer.

Pearce eventually relented and left the midfielder out his squad along with another full international Liverpool striker Andy Carroll. Man City defender Micah Richards, who had been expected to captain the side, then had to pull out with a hamstring injury to be replaced by West Ham defender James Tomkins.

The side play Norway at St Mary’s on Sunday in a final friendly before they jet-off to Scandinavia and will be bidding to improve on a run of three defeats in their last four games – including a shock loss to Iceland last time out.

They are firm 2/5 favourites to beat a Norway side who failed to qualify for the Championships, finishing fourth in their qualifying group. The visitors are 6/1 to record a shock win with the draw 3/1, England are 15/2 to record a convincing 3-0 victory.

England’s first match of the tournament will be against 9/4 tournament favourites Spain on June 12 before facing Ukraine on the 15th and 6/1 third favourites Czech Republic four days later on the 19th in what looks like a tricky Group B.

Hosts Denmark (7/1 outright winners) Switzerland (7/1), Iceland (15/2) and 16/1 tournament outsiders Belarus make up Group A.

Pearce will be hoping his charges can erase painful memories from the last two European Championships. Back in 2007 they reached the semi-finals, drawing 1-1 with hosts Netherlands after 120 minutes and eventually crashing out 13-12 after an epic but ultimately heartbreaking penalty shoot-out.

Two years later they went one better, reaching their first Under-21 final since 1984. But the tournament would once again end in agony as they were crushed 4-0 by the Germany side that included many of the players who starred at last summer’s World Cup.

With both Germany and the Netherlands absent from this tournament Pearce will be hoping this is the time his young side end 27 years of hurt and lift the trophy for a third time in their history.

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