JACK RODWELL has notched another landmark in his burgeoning career by earning an England under-21s call-up.

The Everton midfielder has been named in the squad by coach Stuart Pearce for the friendly with France at Nottingham Forest’s City Ground on March 31.

It is the latest step of progress for Rodwell, who turned 18 last week and has become a first-team squad regular under David Moyes this season.

Rodwell, the youngest ever player to represent Everton in Europe, netted his first senior goal in the FA Cup win over Aston Villa in February and shortly afterwards signed an improved five-year contract at Goodison.

The call-up offers Rodwell a chance to impress with the fixture England’s last scheduled match before the European Under-21 Championships in Sweden this summer.

The U21 squad also travel to Norway for a friendly on March 27, but Rodwell will not be involved having been named in the U19 squad for a friendly with the Czech Republic on two days earlier.

Rodwell, who has already been capped at U16, U17 and U19 level for his country, will then link up with the U21 squad.

“To take the likes of Rodwell from the U19s and say they’ll stay with us, they might not get as much match time,” said Pearce.

“So we feel by giving them a couple of days with the U19s, for them to get a game then come and join the U21s, it’ll be a massive benefit.

“While it means one or two playing at different age groups, we feel that for them, it’s the best thing to do.”