England U21 boss Stuart Peace is upset for crocked Newcastle United defender Steven Taylor.

Pearce claims there had still been time for ­Taylor, 25, to force his way into Fabio Capello's Euro 2012 plans before his season came crashing down.

Pearce said: "We are strong at senior level in central defence but three years ago, Steven was­ ­keeping Gary Cahill out of the team at Under-21s.

"Now Cahill is in the ­senior team so things could have turned around.

"I had a great deal of ­confidence in Steven.

"If you turn the clock back a couple of years, he had waned a little bit which often happens to young players.

"But this season, he has been on the up again."