MIDDLESBROUGH goalkeeper Jason Steele and Sunderland striker Connor Wickham have been named in the England Under-21 squad for this summer's European Championships in Israel.

Steele is likely to deputise for number one goalkeeper Jack Butland, while Wickham will compete with Bolton's Marvin Sordell for what is likely to be a lone striker spot for England's group games against Italy, Norway and Israel.

Under-21s boss Stuart Pearce has also selected Danny Rose, who has spent this season on loan at Sunderland from Tottenham, and Josh McEachran, who recently completed a loan spell at Middlesbrough from Chelsea, in his 23-man squad.

England will be skippered by Wearsider Jordan Henderson as they attempt to improve on their disappointing showing from the last European Championships in Denmark two years ago, when they failed to progress from the group stage.

ENGLAND UNDER-21 SQUAD:

Goalkeepers - Butland (Stoke), Steele (Middlesbrough), Rudd (Norwich)

Defenders - Caulker (Tottenham), Clyne (Southampton), Dawson (West Brom), Lees (Leeds), Rose (Sunderland, loan from Tottenham), Shaw (Southampton), Smith (Tottenham Hotspur), Wisdom (Liverpool)

Midfielders - Chalobah (Watford, loan from Chelsea), Henderson (Liverpool), Ince (Blackpool), Lansbury (Nottingham Forest), Lowe (Blackburn), McEachran (Chelsea), McManaman (Wigan Athletic), Shelvey (Liverpool), Townsend (QPR, loan from Tottenham)

Forwards - Zaha (Crystal Palace, loan from Manchester United), Sordell (Bolton), Wickham (Sunderland)