England U21 boss Stuart Pearce admits he rates Southampton starlet Adam Lallana.

Lallana is a big-money target for Tottenham and Pearce said: "This season I've seen him two or three times and he has been playing exceptionally well.

"In the main he has been playing off the striker. It's a position at international level that sometimes causes us problems. People get in that hole and we do not have too many people in this country who like to play in this position.

"I just thought it was an ideal opportunity for him to come and get involved.

"It gives me a good opportunity to look at him. It also proves to people that this squad is not a closed shop. There is still competition for places when hopefully we go to Sweden."