Pearce wants Walcott for play-offs

England coach Stuart Pearce is keeping his fingers crossed that Theo Walcott will be available for his side's play-off against Wales as he targets a place in the 2009 UEFA European Under-21 Championship.

Croatia hat-trick
The 19-year-old Arsenal FC forward scored a spectacular hat-trick on his fourth appearance for the senior team in their 4-1 rout of Croatia on Wednesday. Pearce says he will speak to England manager Fabio Capello about Walcott's availability for the two-legged play-off on 11/12 and 14/15 October, even though the seniors continue their FIFA World Cup qualifying campaign against Kazakhstan and Belarus that week.

Capello supportive
"Of course I'd like to pick Theo Walcott," Pearce said at today's play-off draw in Malmo. "Theo's played every game for me except the last match [a 2-0 win against Portugal last Friday] when the seniors needed him. Fabio's been very supportive. If Fabio wants him in the seniors in October instead of the play-off matches that is something Fabio and I will have to discuss. Come next summer I'm sure Theo would want to play in this tournament if we get there."

'Grown in stature'
Walcott missed the 2007 UEFA European U21 Championship through injury, as England reached the semi-finals only to lose a marathon penalty shoot-out 13-12 to eventual winners the Netherlands. "I was fortunate enough a year and a half ago to take the team to Holland, which was a great tournament," Pearce continued. "I think the tournament has grown in stature since then. That's probably reflected by the fact both Fabio and I want many players to stay in the Under-21s to get their experience. The senior national managers are taking it very seriously. It's all part of the grounding of young players."

Bendtner chance?
Walcott may not be the only Arsenal starlet coveted by an U21 coach. Denmark's Keld Bordinggaard could call up 20-year-old Nicklas Bendtner for the second leg of his side's play-off against Serbia as the seniors have no fixture that midweek. Bendtner has scored eight goals in 21 full internationals, including one in the Danes' 3-2 win in Portugal on Wednesday, and is available for selection. "I'm aware of this option, but at the moment I do not want to comment any further on it," Bordinggaard said.