"We don't look at Leroy and think any worse of him, " added Pearce.

BBC: SPORT | Football | Internationals | Pearce calls for U21 improvement

"The experience these players would get from being at a major tournament would be fantastic but a number of teams who reached the last finals have found themselves under pressure and I think some of that is down to preparation time, " added Pearce.

BBC: England Under-21s must improve, says boss Stuart Pearce

Pearce also later replaced Fraizer Campbell with Theo Walcott as England looked to inject some added pace into their play.

BBC: England U21 1-1 Germany U21