Stuart Pearce is ready to apply for the fulltime England U21 job.

Pearce is the leading contender to coach the Under-21s after taking them to the European Championship semi-finals where they lost a marathon penalty shoot-out to Holland, and he admits he is desperate to return to football.

He was appointed for the finals earlier in the season on a part-time basis but losing his job at Manchester City means he is unemployed for the first time since leaving school at 16.

"I am unemployed for the first time in my life," he said.

"I want to stay in football, I love the profession and it's a great job and a job I've enjoyed doing.

"I don't know whether they put it out for tenure for people to apply to. It will be a case for myself and the FA to sit down and if I fancy it and like what goes with it, I'll apply for the job."

Pearce is in no doubt that he wants to work in the game rather than take a break, and the Under-21 role is seen as a job where the coach can develop as well as the players.

"Where do you, in normal working-day life, get the adrenaline and highs and lows of this profession?" he added.