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PEARCE HOPES FOR THE BEST

Pearce's men face Wales Under-21s.

Stuart Pearce hopes his England Under-21 dream does not end against Wales this week - but he expects his job to be reviewed if his youngsters fail to make it through their European Championship qualifying play-off.

Pearce is determined to bring a feel-good factor to the country by winning a trophy next summer in Sweden and is regarded highly enough at the Football Association to be part of Fabio Capello's staff with the seniors.

It has been viewed by many as a way of nurturing homegrown coaching talent, although Pearce is also aware of the need to get results in matches such as the Wales clash, with the first leg at Ninian Park on Friday.

"When I joined 18 months ago on a full-time contract it was a two-year contract," said the Under-21 coach.

"That will be reviewed, I hope, next summer at the end of the tournament. That will change on Tuesday if we don't get through the play-off situation.

"That is something I would have to speak to my bosses about. I would still be under contract until the summer but it will be a decision for me and my bosses."

Pearce has been part of Theo Walcott's emergence for the seniors, starting him in every game last season before the Arsenal youngster was promoted to the seniors.

The former England left-back has also remained unbeaten in open play as Under-21 coach, the only defeat he has suffered was after the marathon penalty shoot-out against Holland in last summer's finals tournament.

"I love doing this," he added. "The involvement is fantastic as well. I don't want that to end on Tuesday evening.

"A lot of work has gone in. There is a lot of enjoyment from the players and for the betterment of English football that has to be the case all the time.

"I'll shelve it in my mind and cross the bridge when it comes. That will dictate how I'm deemed and viewed in the FA - whether they want to change, if I want to change direction.

"One thing I would say is I enjoy the involvement with Fabio and the seniors."

When Pearce took the Under-21s the 2007 championships, he had David Bentley withdraw with fatigue and could not contact Gabriel Agbonlahor to confirm his call-up.

Now, 18 months into the job, Pearce is getting text messages from Premier League managers to tell him players returning from injury are putting themselves forward for selection. It means he could have Andrew Taylor coming back for the second leg at Villa Park on Tuesday.

Pearce twice got to the semi-finals of major tournaments as a player and wants to go all the way as a coach.

He continued: "I want to be successful. I would like to be an Under-21 manager that delivers a trophy alongside these players.

"I only ever lost six games in 78 games for the senior team but I haven't got a trophy behind me or a winners medal to say, 'this is what I got playing for England'."

As for Walcott, Pearce expects him to feature against Kazakhstan for the seniors as part of a fluid system when young players can drop down to the Under-21s if they are not playing in Capello's team.

Pearce added. "I would suspect he will keep his place. I don't know that for sure. If he wasn't starting for the seniors I think maybe he would be at Ninian Park for us.

"Players have to be able to step up and step down and they may fluctuate for however long."