Stuart Pearce has revealed that Town striker Connor Wickham will make his England U21 debut at some point during today’s friendly against Germany in Wiesbaden (live on ESPN and the FA website, 5pm). The England U21s coach has been a regular visitor to Portman Road this season to keep a close eye on the Blues frontman.

Pearce is a big fan of the 17-year-old, who netted the winning goal as England beat Spain 2-1 in the final of the European U17 Championships in Liechtenstein in the summer: “Connor is a target man with a touch more.

“He holds the ball up well, he's fantastic in the air. It's like with Peter Crouch. If you say he's just a target man, you are doing him a disservice. His eye for the game is quite good.

"I have to temper that with the fact that Connor may be up to five years younger than some here. I have to be careful with him. He's a clever player and clever players find a way to cope.”

Everton midfielder Jack Rodwell has also been impressed with Wickham, who has been moved up after winning U19 caps earlier this season: “He's going to be a real handful. He's only 17 but he towers above me. They must feed him on raw steaks.”

Former Town academy schoolboy (and Blues supporter) Scott Loach, currently with Watford, is expected to start in goal for Pearce’s side.

Meanwhile, former Blue Jon Walters, hugely critical of Town manager Roy Keane in recent days, has praised Keane’s role in helping him to reach the full Ireland squad ahead of Wednesday’s friendly with Norway: “I said what I had to say when I left, and people made a little bit more of what actually happened.

“For all the fall out at the end, I learnt a lot of good things from him as well and positive things, as I have from every manager I have played under.

“You take little bits from each one. When I was at Ipswich, he made me captain and I would like to think as well he helped improve my game when I was there.”

Photo: Action Images

ThatMuhrenCross added 01:18 - Nov 16 What a very positive story this is! I do especially like Jack Rodwell's comments. Funny actually, Rodwell and Wickham are both in my Crewe Alexandra squad on FIFA 11 as we win European Cup after European Cup!!
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stupidbigmouthhead added 01:41 - Nov 16 I actually like raw steaks
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Upbeat~ added 02:20 - Nov 16 Have to agree with you TMC (not with you though sbmh) it's great to hear others speak so highly of Connor. We can talk him up as much as we want but it's unbiased opinions like Stuart Pearce's that give real credence to our claims.
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nickyslad added 07:45 - Nov 16 will be watching on the tv, good luck Connor x
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Karlosfandangal added 08:33 - Nov 16 Are Walters and Keane about to get engaged
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BlooooCD added 08:49 - Nov 16 Great news for the lad... This is the age group and level at which he should be playing! Because of Keanes short comings in recognising and bringing in new talent we are using him far too much... He should be allowed to learn his trade (keanes words) at a much more moderate rate and we should not have to depend on school kids to get us anywhere. Having him in the squad is a luxury and testament to the academy and Bryan Klug etc. Good luck Connor!

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JayITFC added 09:48 - Nov 16 Fantastic in the air!? WTF!!!
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TractorRoyNo1 added 10:08 - Nov 16 Good luck kid, play well and the price will go up, Play as you have in the 1st team this season and the price will go down.
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TractorRoyNo1 added 10:11 - Nov 16 Burley was 17, Beattie was 18, Mills was club captain at 21 - ahh it was different in those days. How about Wiltshire playing in Arsenal's first team and Rooney scoring goals at 17 in the Premiership. If you are good enough you are old enough, scchimmple! BlooooCD added 08:49 - Nov 16 .....Because of Keanes short comings in recognising and bringing in new talent we are using him far too much......

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BlooooCD added 10:32 - Nov 16 Very good point - TractorRoy! But I do find it so frustrating as he seems to have just a bit part in the sqaud on match days and we all have such expectation when he comes on the park.. I imagine his confidence has been dented (although Eastmans has been smashed) and his price tag must be falling too...
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bluelady added 10:45 - Nov 16 what is Walters on about now? Helped improve your game Walters, you were shocking last season - the only thing he did was constantly play you when you deserved to be dropped - at least now we have a true winger in Edwards and a poacher in the form of Scotland - you were neither!
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TraCtorJoe added 11:06 - Nov 16 Good luck wickham
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meekreech added 11:11 - Nov 16 On the form shown this season he should not be going ! This is a way to get the lads from the big (?) clubs to unsettle him into wanting to move ! Connor is having to temper his expectations to match his current form . We all know he has a great talent but he also has a reckless streak leading to silly bookings which he must learn to control ( I think RK has seen that and is why he is not getting the starts ! ) as the older opponents he comes up against will irk him deliberately and get him sent off !

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meekreech added 11:15 - Nov 16 I wish him well and hope he does well when he gets on ( the earlier post was being a worried supporter , do not want to lose him too soon ! ) it will help in his development and benefit us long term .
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itfc1981 added 11:32 - Nov 16 as I said yesterday reckon Fabio wants him in in the full squad by the end of the season. its not his fault he's playing in the most uncreative town team in years.
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Ipstones added 12:17 - Nov 16 He will score and score again for England he enjos playng with quality around him!
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TractorRoyNo1 added 12:21 - Nov 16 re-walters i wonder when the interview and quotes from him in the irish press was actually made, perhaps they were soon after he left and the media was just stirring things up by publishing in the past few days on a wider point, it's a funny old world, he plays dozens of good games for Town and doesn't get near the national team, he looks out of his depth in the premiership and becomes a sub for a team like Stoke and then gets a call up.

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Mark added 12:23 - Nov 16 This is a big boost for Connor, and I hope he does really well. After all the hype it has been a disappointing season for him, but then the Ipswich strikers get little service these days and so it's not his fault. Hopefully England U21s will put some decent crosses in and Wickham can capitalise.
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onlyone added 12:31 - Nov 16 Good luck today Connor and enjoy ur time away with England
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blue_em_away added 12:31 - Nov 16 I reckon he will do well tonight. He will have no pressure to score or play a blinder. The same cannot be said when he plays for us, always under pressure to fulfill his talent when he gets on the pitch. He should be coming on when we are 3-0 up not 0-3 down. TOO MUCH PRESSURE IS PUT ON HIM MR KEANE.
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ChambersM added 12:36 - Nov 16 Fantastic in the air I am afraid not.
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whoppit added 12:40 - Nov 16 Connor can only benefit from the "proper and professional" coaching he will get with England. He is not used to that at Playford Road.
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BlueVelvet added 12:43 - Nov 16 Don't know about Under 21, but don't accept anything under 11mill for him in the Jan sales.
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brian_a_mul added 14:19 - Nov 16 The U-21 will raise his value yet again. An impressive endorsement by "Psycho" Pearse and Rodwell. If he performs well or scores he will be linked with every club again in the morning gossip columns, just wait and see! Before WC Capello was watching DVDs of Connor so maybe they are trying to fast track him. It wont be long before he is assimilated in to the England fold.

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captain_fantastic added 15:29 - Nov 16 Personally I'm rather surprised by this call-up, but this will hopefully give him a much needed boast in confidence that he obviously needs. Experience at this level is invaluable, and this can only help improve Connor's development. I don't buy into the reason he's been called up is to turn his head conspiracy theories, Pearce has seen his ability and that's the only reason why he"s been called up! Don't get too paranoid! All the very best Connor, I'll be watching on!

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