Spearing gets England call
Jay Spearing has been drafted into England U21s' provisional 40-man squad for the forthcoming European Championships.
The midfielder, who last week signed an extension to his Liverpool contract, has been called up after Bolton Wanderers' Mark Davies was forced to withdraw due to injury.
Spearing has been in fine form in recent weeks and has started each of the Reds' last seven Barclays Premier League matches as they have climbed to fifth in the table.
In total, he has made 18 first-team appearances so far this season and though he is 22-years-old, he is eligible to compete for England U21s in the tournament because he was underage when qualification began.
Spearing is joined in the 40-man selection by fellow Liverpool star Andy Carroll
Coach Stuart Pearce has to name his final 23-man squad for the tournament, which will be played in Denmark, by June 1.
The Three Lions' campaign kicks off against Spain on June 12 before they tackle Ukraine (June 15) and Czech Republic (June 19).
Prior to flying to Denmark, England will take on fellow finalists Norway in a warm-up fixture at Southampton's St. Mary's Stadium on June 5.
England U21s' provisional squad in full:
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), Jay Spearing (Liverpool)*, 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)
*Spearing replaces Mark Davies (Bolton Wanderers)
