England U21 boss Stuart Pearce wants to take Arsenal starlet Theo Walcott to next year's European Championships.

Walcott, 19, has established himself in the senior side and there have been suggestions he would be given the summer off at the end of a hard season.

But Under-21 boss Pearce said: "Why would you qualify and play seven matches, and then turn around and say to those players 'You go and have a nice rest this summer'? That's folly."