England U21 boss Stuart Pearce believes Alex McCarthy's progress won't suffer with Reading in the Championship.

Pearce does not think Reading goalkeeper McCarthy will have to move to a Premier League team this summer to retain his place in the England squad.

"I just think he needs to be playing. If he is playing Roy will look at him," the England Under-21 coach said.

"You hear some people talking about how players from fashionable clubs only get the opportunity (at international level), but he has proven that idea wrong. If you are playing well enough you will get the opportunity no matter where you are.

"He is in the England squad now so that tells you something straight away - he wouldn't be in the England squad if Roy didn't trust him."