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Uncapped duo Fraizer Campbell and Tom Cleverley have been named in England's squad for Wednesday's friendly against the Netherlands.

Sunderland striker Campbell is called up for the first time while Manchester United midfielder Cleverley is picked again - he was selected for August's cancelled fixture against the Dutch.

Manchester City's Micah Richards and Liverpool's Steven Gerrard also return.

Veteran players Rio Ferdinand and Frank Lampard have not been included.

quote Buzzing to be named in the England squad. All eyes on Ajax tonight though!

Campbell tweeted: external-link "Absolutely delighted to be part of the England team. Been the longest and hardest 18 months of my life and feel truly honoured to be given a chance."

England caretaker manager Stuart Pearce told BBC Radio 5 live: "I've looked at games in isolation and tried to assess what I would want and what I would like to see."

He said striker Campbell was an "exciting talent" who had made an impact following his return to the Sunderland side following 18 months out with knee ligament damage.

"I know Fraizer quite well because I've taken the majority of these boys to under-21 tournaments," added Pearce, who is in charge on a temporary basis following the departure of Fabio Capello.

"He was fantastic at under-21 level. He has come back into the Sunderland side and that's given him a lift. I think he's worked well to get back from the injury he had. He's an exciting talent."

Pearce also praised Cleverley, who recently returned from an ankle problem to help United beat Ajax 2-0 in the first leg of their Europa League tie.

"He started the season fantastically well," added the former England full-back.

"It's been a bit stop-start with injuries. He's come back into the United side, they've played him in a more central role, which is something I didn't do at under-21 level, and he's flourished.

"They [United] talk highly of him. He's got a big future. Just being around the senior set-up will stand him in good stead."

Meanwhile, Richards returns to the squad having been overlooked by Capello for much of his tenure.

"He's done extremely well this year. To hold your place in the Manchester City side is no mean feat these days. He's had a smashing season," continued Pearce.

"It will be interesting for him and his mentality coming back into the squad."

However, there was no room in the 25 for in-form Arsenal winger Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and England stalwarts Lampard and Ferdinand, of Chelsea and Manchester United respectively.

"He's played only a handful of games," Pearce said of Oxlade-Chamberlain.

"Alex is playing extremely well for the under-21s and if we elevated him into the senior squad and he played for 10 minutes then I can't see what the footballing education would be."

And of the more experienced players, he added: "My mentality going into the game was 'what would I need to learn as a manager going into a major tournament this summer and what would the possible next manager looking from afar need to learn about individuals?'"

England squad

Goalkeepers: Scott Carson (Bursaspor), Joe Hart (Manchester City), Robert Green (West Ham United)

Defenders: Gary Cahill (Chelsea), Ashley Cole (Chelsea), Leighton Baines (Everton), Glen Johnson (Liverpool), Phil Jones (Manchester United), Micah Richards (Manchester City), Chris Smalling (Manchester United), Kyle Walker (Tottenham Hotspur)

Midfielders: Gareth Barry (Manchester City), Tom Cleverley (Manchester United), Stewart Downing (Liverpool), Adam Johnson (Manchester City), Steven Gerrard (Liverpool), James Milner (Manchester City), Scott Parker (Tottenham Hotspur), Ashley Young (Manchester United), Theo Walcott (Arsenal)

Forwards: Darren Bent (Aston Villa), Fraizer Campbell (Sunderland), Daniel Sturridge (Chelsea), Wayne Rooney (Manchester United), Danny Welbeck (Manchester United)