Cleverley 'buzzing' following Team GB inclusion

Manchester United midfielder Tom Cleverley has revealed his delight at being named in Staurt Pearce's 18-man Team GB squad.

After his breakthrough season at Old Trafford, Cleverley was touted as a potential member of Roy Hodgson's England squad for Euro 2012.

However, after missing out on the 23-man squad for the European Championship, Cleverley is delighted to have been named on the Team GB list, and is relishing the challenges ahead.

"I'm buzzing about it, I cannot wait," Cleverley told the Manchester Evening News.

"It is a great way for me to bounce back after the disappointment of not going to the Euros with England.

"It's a young squad, apart from the older-age players, and after England's Euro 2012 experience a lot of people are talking about putting the accent on youth.

"This is a chance for me to remind people early. They've put trust in us and I want to repay that faith."

After a promising start to the 2011-12 season, Cleverley picked up a series of niggling injuries and made just 10 league appearances for United, and was also hampered by the impressive form of Michael Carrick and Paul Scholes.

However, the 22-year-old is hoping a strong Olympic campaign will stand him in good stead for the upcoming domestic season.

"I need to hit the ground running for the new season and this is a great chance for me," he added.

"The manager [Sir Alex Ferguson] was happy for me that I was shortlisted and had no problems about me being in the Olympics if chosen. I will miss United's pre-season tour and, ideally, I would have liked to do both.

"But after my injury spell out last season, Paul Scholes and Michael Carrick were doing so well I didn't get much game time.

"So I need minutes on the pitch and I feel that playing in high-stake competitive matches like I'll get at the Olympics is right for me.

"I am very excited about it and I just want to have a good tournament. It's a fantastic opportunity and a great boost."

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