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STUART PEARCE is heading for an explosive row with Arsenal after naming Jack Wilshere on his Olympics shortlist.
Wilshere has not played this season with a long-term ankle injury.
Gunners boss Arsene Wenger last week ruled the midfielder out of this summer’s European Championship.
But Pearce has told Wenger he still hopes to play Wilshere in the Games football tournament.
The Team GB boss said: “He is on the shortlist.
“We will look at everyone individually and check their fitness and the medical people will speak with the clubs.
“We do have to be acutely aware that with an 18-man squad, and possibly six matches in 16 days, all the players are fully fit.
“You can’t be losing two or three to injury, otherwise you will be on the back foot.”
Pearce will whittle the 80-strong list down to his 18-man squad in May. David Beckham has been tipped to skipper the side.
And Pearce has told club managers to do the decent thing and encourage their top stars to play.
He added: “I am acutely aware that club managers have a duty of care to their individual clubs.
“But once the tournament starts, excitement will be generated and people will see the greater good it will do for the individual players and the feelgood factor it brings.
“Plus we will be returning the players to their clubs before the season starts, so all they will be missing are pre-season friendlies.
“If I was a player, I would much prefer to be playing at Old Trafford, Wembley and the Millennium Stadium, competing for a medal and then going back to my club.
“The lift that would give me would be fantastic.”