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England's U21 side will play the first home game of their Euro 2011 qualifying campaign on Friday evening at Coventry City's Ricoh Arena.

Manager Stuart Pearce (pictured) will lead his side out against Macedonia in front of a home crowd for the first time since their dramatic penalty shootout loss to Sweden in the final of Euro 2009.

England won 2-1 in Macedonia in their opening Group Nine fixture last month, courtesy of goals from Freddie Sears and Lee Cattermole. Daniel Sturridge was on target four days later when England secured a 1-1 draw in Greece.

England can go top of the group if they complete the double over Macedonia and Portugal win in Greece.

Pearce is hoping for a big crowd to give his players a good reception in the town where he began his professional career.

"The set-up here is fantastic. For the Championship this is unbelievable and would grace the Premiership," Pearce said. "One of the main reasons we've brought the game back here is, historically, they've been selling this place out.

"Against the Germans a couple of years ago they sold out, so it would be fantastic if we got another good attendance on Friday night.

Theo Walcott rejoins the squad after missing out on Fabio Capello's senior squad having just returned from injury, but Pearce is grateful to have the Arsenal star in his ranks as a late replacement for Lee Cattermole.

Pearce said of Walcott: I'll pick the team on Friday, but he's certainly one of our best players in the squad. We're pleased to have him in the squad, but it would be folly for me not to have brought him here."

West Ham's Zavon Hines joins the set-up for the first time. The Jamaica-born winger has previously been called up the Reggae Boys' senior squad but remains eligible to play for England after not making it in to the pitch for a friendly against Nigeria in February.

"I moved to England when I was seven years old, my dad was living there and I went to live with him," Hines said.

"I got a call last year saying I'd got a call up for the Jamaica senior squad. Before that I'd said I'd consider it, so people must have passed it on.

"I was born in Jamaica and Jamaica is in my heart, but right now I just want to concentrate on playing for England."

England U21 squad to face Macedonia at Ricoh Arena on Friday October 9:

Goalkeepers: Scott Loach (Watford), Frankie Fielding (Leeds United), Alex McCarthy (Yeovil Town)

Defenders: Ryan Bertrand (Reading), Kieran Gibbs (Arsenal), Michael Mancienne (Wolves), Kyle Naughton (Tottenham), Micah Richards (Manchester City), Chris Smalling (Fulham), James Tomkins (West Ham)

Midfielders: Tom Cleverley (Watford), Jack Cork (Coventry), Fabrice Muamba (Bolton), Jack Rodwell (Everton), Danny Rose (Peterborough), Junior Stanislas (West Ham), Jack Wilshere (Arsenal)

Forwards: Andy Carroll (Newcastle), Zavon Hines (West Ham), Daniel Sturridge (Chelsea), Daniel Wellbeck (Manchester United), Theo Walcott (Arsenal)

Follow LIVE scoring of England U21 v Macedonia U21 at uk.eurosport.yahoo.com from 19:45 this evening!

Tony MABERT / Eurosport