England Under-21 coach Stuart Pearce has rested several first-choice players for the friendly international against Poland at Molineux on Tuesday night.

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Middlesbrough midfielder Lee Cattermole has been forced to withdraw after picking up a knock in training, and with Manchester City midfielder Michael Johnson and West Brom striker Ishmael Miller also absent through injury, Pearce is left with a squad of 17 to select from.

The former Manchester City manager could give debuts to six uncapped players, as he looks to add depth to a squad that has yet to suffer defeat this season.

Boro centre-half David Wheater was called up to Fabio Capello's provisional England squad for the friendly with France and usual captain Steven Taylor has been left out to allow Pearce to look at some new faces.

Manchester City's Nedum Onuoha will start at centre-half - where he has played for his club in recent weeks in the absence through injury of senior international Micah Richards - and he will probably be partnered by QPR loanee Michael Mancienne.

Regular strikers Gabriel Agbonlahor and Theo Walcott both received call-ups to the senior squad, meaning Birmingham striker Cameron Jerome and Blackburn forward Matt Derbyshire could start up front together, unless Pearce opts to stick to his preferred 4-3-3 formation.

Goalkeeper Tom Heaton (Manchester United), defenders Scott Dann, Neil Fox (both Coventry) and Ryan Shawcross (Stoke), midfielder Jamie O'Hara (Tottenham) and striker Frazier Campbell (Hull, on loan from Manchester United) are the players hoping to make their bows for the Under-21s.

Pearce told The FA website: "What I want, come 15 months time if we get to the [Under-21 European Championship] Finals, is a squad of 23 who have all had experience at this level, played games and are putting pressure on each other to get in that starting eleven."

Pearce's side currently sit top of Qualifying Group Three, nine points clear of nearest rivals Portugal.

Tom Williams / Eurosport