Stuart Pearce: 'England taking Scotland seriously'

Stuart Pearce has insisted that England's players will be taking the friendly against Scotland just as seriously as their opponents.

The Three Lions will play in Scotland for the first time in 15 years when the two nations meet at Celtic Park this evening.

Pearce, who played in England's 2-0 victory over the Tartan Army at Euro 1996, believes that the game means just as much to Roy Hodgson's side.

"It is a fantastic fixture. When you are an England player you look at Scotland and maybe France, Germany as the real big games," Pearce told talkSPORT.

"International friendlies have diminished a bit but it is still England vs. Scotland and the players should bring passion to the game. The fans definitely will.

"You will have 22 players all with their national colours on and that in itself should be enough to evoke this fixture."

England beat the Scots 3-2 at Wembley when the sides last met in August 2013.