Pearce releases five players

England Under-21 manager Stuart Pearce has allowed five players to return to their Premier League clubs, the FA said on Saturday.

Sunderland duo Jordan Henderson and Danny Welbeck, Manchester United's Chris Smalling and Bolton pair Fabrice Muamba and Daniel Sturridge, who all played in the 4-0 defeat of Denmark in Viborg on Tuesday, will miss the friendly against Iceland at Deepdale on Monday night.

Manchester City's Micah Richards will also be missing following the hamstring injury he picked up in the Denmark game.

The FA also announced today that Pearce's team will face Norway in Southampton on June 5 for their final friendly ahead of the European Under-21 Championship in Denmark this summer.

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