Psycho for England?

Friday's dramatic shoot-out win against Sweden means England have a real chance of lifting the European Championship for the first time in 25 years and has led for calls for Pearce, who works closely with Fabio Capello, to be named as the Italian's eventual successor.

Ex-national team boss Sven Goran Eriksson told BBC Sport: "If he has proven it at under-21 why shouldn't he be able to do it with the senior team?

"Yes it's a big step, but I think he can do it in the future. Why not?"

Another former City Ground star however has sounded a note of caution.

Writing in the Evening Post, Garry Birtles said: 'He is still very young in management terms, inexperienced, and, for me, he needs to go back and learn his trade at a domestic level, perhaps in the Premiership.'