Mancienne ready to take step up

Many viewed the inclusion of 20-year-old Michael Mancienne in the full England squad as a bolt from the blue. However, with Under-21 manager Stuart Pearce forging a close working relationship with national team boss Fabio Capello, the rapid rise of the country's young players is a natural progression.

Second-tier experience
Chelsea FC central defender Mancienne has never played a game in the Premier League and is on loan at second-tier Wolverhampton Wanderers FC, who lead the division by six points. He spent the last two seasons gaining experience at the same level with Queens Park Rangers FC – playing 58 times for Chelsea's west London neighbours – and his commanding performances earned international recognition with an U21 call-up. He soon became an integral part of Pearce's team and helped the side qualify for next summer's UEFA European Under-21 Championship.

Pearce influence
Mancienne is the latest of a number of Pearce's side to make the step up to the senior set up. Goalkeeper Joe Hart, who has since pulled out through injury, and striker Gabriel Agbonlahor were also named in Capello's squad to face Germany on Wednesday as was Theo Walcott, the biggest star to progress from Pearce's team this season. "Stuart Pearce is easy to talk to and understanding," Mancienne said. "He always gives an honest opinion. If he sees something not right, he'll talk to me and correct me."

Walcott example
Mancienne agrees that the example of Walcott gives the other U21 players hope for their own elevation. "We've been wanting to do well for the manager," he added. "Theo getting in was a real morale boost, seeing youngsters getting drafted in to the senior squad. He's got the world at his feet. You've seen his confidence go through the roof since his hat-trick [against Croatia in a FIFA World Cup qualifier in September]."

'Good experience'
Mancienne joined Chelsea aged nine, and even though he is yet to play for the club, he could do no worse than look at the example of club and England captain John Terry. "I went on loan to Nottingham Forest [FC] and it is good experience," Terry said. "Fair play to Michael. We have got a lot of players at Chelsea and he has been eager to go out and prove that he is good enough."

'Next step'
Pearce has made no secret of how highly he thinks of Mancienne and, as he gives regular reports to Capello on the progress of the U21s, his inclusion makes perfect sense for his Wolves manager Mick McCarthy. "Under the natural progression, Michael has played regularly for the U21s, so this is the next step," he said. "The England coaches must watch him every game and must like what they see – and I think he is ready."