Lennon was expected to be named in the England senior squad

Lennon's in-form team-mates Jamie O'Hara and Tom Huddlestone are also in the squad for the match at St Mary's.

Pearce said England coach Capello was keen to have a closer look at Lennon.

As well as Lennon, Capello predicted keeper Joe Hart, striker Theo Walcott and defender David Wheater could make the senior squad in the future.

606: DEBATE Give your reaction to Pearce's England Under-21 squad

"There are some players like Joe Hart, Aaron Lennon, Theo Walcott and David Wheater who are with the U21s this time because they have a very important qualification game against Ireland on Tuesday," said Capello.

"In the future these are players that could feature in the senior squad.

"I believe it is very important for everyone that the U21 team does well and I want to help them achieve success with Stuart."

England U21's sit top of qualifying group three, six points ahead of second-placed Portugal with two games to play before to play-off stage.

GOALKEEPERS
Joe Hart (Man City)
Tom Heaton (Man Utd)
Joe Lewis (Peterborough)

DEFENDERS
Craig Gardner (Villa)
Michael Mancienne (Chelsea)
Joe Mattock (Leicester)
Nedum Onuoha (Man City)
Ryan Shawcross (Stoke)
Steven Taylor (Newcastle)
David Wheater (Middlesbrough)

MIDFIELDERS
Lee Cattermole (Middlesbrough)
Tom Huddlestone (Tottenham)
Adam Johnson (Middlesbrough)
Aaron Lennon (Tottenham)
James Milner (Newcastle)
Fabrice Muamba (Birmingham)
Mark Noble (West Ham)
Jamie O'Hara (Tottenham)
Andrew Surman (Southampton)