• England Under-21s

Wilshere and Carroll in England U21 squad

Jackj Wilshere was named PFA Young Player of the Year © PA Photos

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Arsenal star Jack Wilshere has been included in the provisional England Under-21 squad for this summer's European Championship.

Wilshere has emerged as a key player for Arsenal this season and has cemented a place in Fabio Capello's full England squad.

However, the midfielder still qualifies for the Under-21s and he has been selected by Stuart Pearce despite Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger voicing his concern.

Also included is Liverpool striker Andy Carroll who is feeling his way back to full fitness following a spell on the sidelines.

Four other players, Danny Welbeck, Jordan Henderson, Micah Richards and Kieran Gibbs have earned full international honours.

The squad will be whittled down to a final 23 by June 1, ahead of the beginning of the tournament in Denmark on June 11.

Pearce feels the players will benefit from taking in tournaments at Under-21 level, rather than moving straight into the seniors with no experience.

"My scenario and experience as a player, I had 20 caps when I stepped out at the Italy World Cup finals and it frightened the life out of me because I had no tournament experience leading into that," Pearce told Sky Sports. "It is my job A: to try and win something at Under-21 level and B: to ensure the players have got the tournament experience that when they step onto that senior stage, the likes of Hart, Milner, Walcott and individuals like that take to it and take it in their stride and that it does not faze them."

Provisional squad:

Goalkeepers
Frankie Fielding (Blackburn Rovers), Scott Loach (Watford), Jason Steele (Middlesbrough), Alex McCarthy (Reading),

Defenders
Joe Bennett (Middlesbrough), Ryan Bertrand (Chelsea), Kieran Gibbs (Arsenal), Phil Jones (Blackburn Rovers), Michael Mancienne (Wolverhampton Wanderers - loan from Chelsea), Ben Mee (Leicester City - loan from Manchester City), Kyle Naughton (Leicester City - loan from Tottenham), Micah Richards (Manchester City), Chris Smalling (Manchester United), James Tomkins (West Ham United), Kieran Trippier (Barnsley - loan from Manchester City), Kyle Walker (Aston Villa - loan from Tottenham Hotspur),

Midfielders
Marc Albrighton (Aston Villa), Jack Cork (Burnley - loan from Chelsea), Tom Cleverley (Wigan Athletic - loan from Man Utd), Mark Davies (Bolton Wanderers), Adam Hammill (Wolverhampton Wanderers), Jordan Henderson (Sunderland), Jonathan Howson (Leeds United), Adam Lallana (Southampton), Henri Lansbury (Norwich City - loan from Arsenal), Josh McEachran (Chelsea), Fabrice Muamba (Bolton Wanderers), Jack Rodwell (Everton), Danny Rose (Tottenham Hotspur), Scott Sinclair (Swansea City), Jack Wilshere (Arsenal)

Forwards
Andy Carroll (Liverpool), Nathan Delfouneso (Burnley - loan from Aston Villa), Gary Hooper (Celtic), Jay Rodriguez (Burnley), Freddie Sears (West Ham United), Daniel Sturridge (Bolton Wanderers - loan from Chelsea), James Vaughan (Crystal Palace - loan from Everton), Danny Welbeck (Sunderland - loan from Man Utd), Connor Wickham (Ipswich Town)

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