Gabby Agbonlahor and Craig Gardner have been told they are playing for two caps when England Under-21s face Slovenia at Hull's KC Stadium tomorrow.

The Villa pair are in Stuart Pearce's squad for the first friendly of the season and the England coach has told his young charges they are playing for places in next month's vital European Championship qualifier with Portugal.

Pearce said: "We are in the scenario now where we are in the build-up to a big tournament so it's a vital match for us with our final qualifier against Portugal at Wembley on the horizon.

"Friendlies are not friendlies when you play for England, and as a patriot I was very proud every time I played for my country. Players are judged each time they pull on a shirt for England.

"And I've always said, if you play for your country you are playing for two caps. Play well in one game and you'll give yourself a chance for another opportunity in the next match."

He added: "I've picked a strong squad for this game and it's down to those individuals now, and anyone outside that squad, to really start trying to nail down a place for the final squad next summer, should we qualify for Sweden.

"It's not me that picks the squad, it's the players themselves and their performances that will pick the squad."