Richard Stearman: My pride at England U21 call-up

Sep 4 2008 By Brian Halford

RICHARD Stearman today expressed his pride at his call-up for England Under-21s’ vital qualifier with Portugal at Wembley tomorrow night.

Wolves centre-half Stearman has been drafted into the squad by manager Stuart Pearce in the light of injuries to other central defenders.

And he joins Molineux team-mates Sylvan Ebanks-Blake and Michael Kightly in the squad for the game from which England need to take just one point off the highly-rated Portuguese to qualify for next year’s finals in Sweden.

“I am delighted,” Stearman said. “Sylvan has got his first call-up and Kights is there as well and I know a few of the other boys so it’s exciting stuff. Playing for your country is one of the highest honours you can get.

“It’s also a great honour for Wolves as a club to have three players involved in the Under 21s when we’re outside the Premier League.

“A lot of our players are away on international duty with various countries this week and almost all of them have been brought in by the gaffer. It’s great stuff for the players concerned and bodes well for Wolves’ future.”

Stearman, who was on the bench for both of England Under 21s’ qualifiers last November, at home to Bulgaria and away to Portugal, has been drafted in following injuries to Craig Gardner, Michael Johnson and Micah Richards.

“I have been called up once before but was on the bench,” he said. “I have not yet managed any minutes yet for the Under 21s but it is certainly something I am hoping to do and I will be trying to impress.

“It’s great to be recognised for what I’m doing for the club. Personally it’s a great accolade and the fact it’s at Wembley as well makes me very happy.”

If they get on the field, the Wolves trio will be performing in front of a bumper crowd as they aim to help Pearce’s squad over the line to qualification.