STUART PEARCE AIMING TO HAVE WILFRIED ZAHA FIT FOR ENGLAND'S NORWAY CLASH

ABOVE: England stars Jordan Henderson and Wilfried Zaha train ahead of the Norway game

We’ve had some good movement and interaction in the team, but that didn’t show itself against Italy.

England Under-21 boss Stuart Pearce

8th June 2013

By James Dobson

ENGLAND hope to have Manchester United new boy Wilfried Zaha fit to face Norway tonight.

He has been struggling with an ankle injury, but coach Stuart Pearce said: “Wilf has trained with the group and is looking in good shape so he is available.”

Tottenham’s Danny Rose is back from suspension and Pearce added: “Danny was Sunderland’s player of the season while on loan there and he has always performed brilliantly for me.”

Pearce hopes the pair will lift a side he admits under-performed in their 1-0 defeat by Italy in their opening game of the tournament.

He said: “We have got a strong squad of players that want to put things right.

“The important thing for me now is that the players deliver a performance befitting of England.

“I think if our performance is good we’ll win the game. I think we need to see a touch more energy and drive and a bit more confidence on the ball.

“We’ve played some good football over the last few months, irrespective of our results.

“We’ve had some good movement and interaction in the team, but that didn’t show itself against Italy.

“I think we just needed to show a bit more devilment and when we had the ball we needed to show a bit more composure with our movement and our flair.

“We’ve got some good players in our team and too many of them didn’t show that character against Italy but I’m confident that they will this time against Norway.”