Midfielder Henri Lansbury has David Beckham-like qualities that should be seen on the Premier League stage – according to a former Norwich City skipper now working as an England scout.

Ian Butterworth, one-time assistant manager at Carrow Road and now a scout for England Under-21 boss Stuart Pearce, watched Lansbury's performances during his loan spell with the promotion-winning Canaries.

Pearce has included the Arsenal man in his squad for the UEFA Under-21 Championship starting in Denmark on Saturday.

City have made no comment on whether they will try to re-sign Lansbury, who made 23 Championship appearances for them, while the 20-year-old has spoken of his desire to force his way into the Gunners' first team next season.

Either way, Butterworth believes he is ready to make an impact in the top flight.

'If I was Henri Lansbury I would want to play regular football, but will he cement a place at Arsenal? Probably not at the start of the season, at least. He needs to play games for a Premier League club, he's gone past the Championship,' said Butterworth.

'I saw him about five or six times last season. I always relayed back positive reports to Stuart and he likes him.

'Henri needs to play football, get a good run of 15 or 20 games. I think he's bit like David Beckham, he sees a pass, it's inch-perfect. He has good technique, quality on the ball.

'I like to see him play behind the front two because he sees things that others don't see.

'But I don't know where Stuart will play him because he has people like Jack Rodwell, Jordan Henderson and Fabrice Muamba in midfield – there are a few decent players there.'

Lansbury is joined in Pearce's squad by two more former Norwich loan players, defenders Ryan Bertrand and Kieran Gibbs.

England Under-21s completed their preparations for their Euro title bid with a 2-0 friendly win against Norway at Southampton yesterday. Lansbury came on as a second half substitute for Jordan Henderson.

Butterworth will not travel to Denmark but was sent to watch England's group opponents and compiled dossiers on each side for Pearce, his former Coventry and Nottingham Forest team-mate.

'It's a very difficult group with games against Spain, Ukraine and the Czech Republic,' he said.

'Spain are a very good side and play very much in the style of the seniors.

'The Czech Republic are a decent side, a strong side, they've beaten Germany Under-21s and a few of their play-ers play in good leagues around Europe.

'But I still believe we should qualify from that group. If Stuart gets them going he'll get them through.

'The other group, with Denmark, Switzerland, Iceland and Belarus, doesn't seem quite as strong.

'England have a good chance even though Stuart is arguably without his four best players – Theo Walcott, Micah Richards, Andy Carroll and Jack Wilshere.'

Butterworth, 47, is currently in the south of France, watching games in the Toulon Tournament on behalf of England Under-20 boss Brian Eastick. He is assessing potential opponents for England ahead of Under-20 World Cup in Colombia, which runs from July 29 to August 20.

'I'll be watching Mexico, who are in England's group in Colombia – and Portugal, France and Ivory Coast, who they could meet in the later stages,' he said.

'The one drawback with this tournament is that it clashes with the start of the season in England and clubs are often unwilling to release their players.'