England coach Stuart Pearce denies he has a grudge against Liverpool striker Andy Carroll.

Pearce denied that his decision not to pick Liverpool's £35m striker Carroll in either squad had anything to do with him missing the under-21s tournament last summer.

"That was an irrelevance. Andy Carroll was injured last summer, that's why he couldn't participate in the under-21s. That was the only reason in respect of that.

"It's been reported that I had a problem with Andy which is so far from the truth it's incredible. I picked this squad solely on the form of the other four that I put in front of him against anything he'd doing at the moment.

"I just feel with Andy at the moment is rediscovering some form. I feel as though the individuals we've put in before him are slightly ahead of him at this moment in time."