Craig Dawson poised to win GB Olympic call

West Bromwich Albion defender Craig Dawson was today set to be handed a place in the Great Britain Olympic football squad for London 2012.

Team GB coach Stuart Pearce is familiar with Dawson having worked with him at England Under-21 level where the youngster made an eye-catching debut with two goals in a 6-0 win over Azerbaijan.

The decision to call up 22-year-old Dawson, who made 12 appearances for Albion last season, will mean he will miss a part of the Baggies' pre-season programme to take part in the tournament.

Birmingham goalkeeper Jack Butland was also expected to be named in the 18-man squad as Pearce's first-choice goalkeeper.

The 19-year-old's only experience of first-team football so far has been in two loan spells with League Two outfit Cheltenham Town, but he was part of Roy Hodgson's England squad at Euro 2012 after Norwich shot-stopper John Ruddy suffered a broken finger.

It was initially anticipated that Pearce would not include any players involved in Poland and Ukraine but Blues keeper Butland was an unused substitute in all of England's games.

The squad will not contain any Scottish or Northern Irish players, although Wales will be represented with Manchester United's Ryan Giggs and Liverpool's Craig Bellamy set to be two of the three over-age players.

Manchester City defender Micah Richards was also set to be confirmed as the third over-age player, with Pearce ready to face difficult questions over the controversial exclusion of David Beckham.

It was widely anticipated the former England captain, who had been an active part of the London 2012 bid and promotional team, would be rewarded with one of three over-age player slots in the final party.

Beckham made the 35-man shortlist but confirmed last week he had not been selected.

Spurs defender Gareth Bale had been set to be named in the squad but the Wales defender was forced to pull out on medical advice after aggravating a back injury.

Team GB begin their Group A campaign against Senegal at Old Trafford on July 26 before they face United Arab Emirates three days later at Wembley and then Uruguay at the Millennium Stadium on August 1.