Pearce: I'm not up to the job

PULLING THE STRINGS ... boss Stuart Pearce at Wembley

But after the 3-2 loss to Holland at Wembley, the caretaker-boss stressed he is not experienced enough to be the full-time national boss.

Pearce praised his team for their battling qualities as they hit back from 2-0 down to level — only to concede Arjen Robben's injury-time winner.

Yet afterwards, Pearce admitted he would still love to boss his country at Euro 2012 — but conceded it would only be on a temporary basis if the FA have been unable to find a man to succeed Fabio Capello.

Many believed Pearce would throw his hat into the ring to become the permanent boss.

But Pearce said: "When I put myself forward to the employers, and told them I had the experience to take the team to the finals, I said that wouldn't be daunting to me at all. After that period, I don't have the experience for this job.

"I've really enjoyed this week and would enjoy the summer but I'd only be buying the FA some time if they've not got someone in time. The full-time manager of England is somebody else. It's certainly not me.

"After the summer, definitely not. That is for somebody else.

"If someone else steps into the breach before the summer I will offer my services in any way I can. I'm there to support the next manager, simple as that."

Pearce's biggest concerns last night night, though, were the injuries to Chris Smalling, Steven Gerrard and Daniel Sturridge.

Smalling suffered a horrific clash of heads with Klaas-Jan Huntelaar as the Dutch striker put Holland two up on 58 minutes.

Both players went to hospital for scans, with Smalling — unlikely to face Tottenham this Sunday — suffering a nasty gash to his head. Huntelaar had a massive clump of grass in his mouth as he got up from the pitch.

Steven Gerrard, playing his first game since November 2010, suffered a hamstring strain after little more than 30 minutes, while Chelsea striker Sturridge has a toe problem and needed an injection afterwards.

Pearce said: "Chris Smalling has a really bad gash on the head and has gone to hospital. We hope that is not too bad. Steven Gerrard, we took him off as he was feeling a little tight, that was precautionary on the grounds we were going to play him 45 minutes anyway.

"We brought him off before that just to look after him a touch.

"We did well to get back to 2-2. A bit of knowhow or nous would have seen the game out.

"It's disappointing for us, but the exercise was to learn from it.

"We came up against an outstanding side — the Robbens and Robin van Persies of this world are outstanding — and the exercise will stand our young players in good stead.

"We were naïve and maybe had a slight lack of belief. Having got ourselves back in the game we were disappointed we've been beaten.

"But there were a few good showings from the players.

"We've learnt a lot and that was the exercise — to learn about one or two individuals and their credentials for the summer."

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