Stuart Pearce has been assured he will not be put under pressure by his Football Association employers over the biggest decision he faces in naming his squad for England’s friendly against Holland at Wembley on February 29.

Pearce, in temporary charge of the team after manager Fabio Capello’s resignation, will name his squad on
Thursday. And his toughest decision will be whether to choose John Terry alongside Rio Ferdinand at the centre of his defence.

Doing the rounds: Temporary England boss Stuart Pearce will be in charge against Holland at Wembley at the end of February

Normally, both would be automatic choices. But, while Ferdinand has figured prominently in Manchester United’s recent games, Terry has missed Chelsea’s last four because of injury.

That may give Pearce the excuse not to pick the Chelsea captain, so avoiding the potential embarrassment of
Terry lining up alongside the man whose younger brother, QPR defender Anton Ferdinand, he has been accused of racially abusing.

Capello resigned as England manager on February 8 over the FA’s decision to strip Terry of the captaincy while he defends himself against the charge, which he has consistently denied.

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