James Tomkins has been included in the Team GB football squad for the London 2012 Olympics.

The West Ham United midfielder has been given the nod by manager Stuart Pearce following an impressive campaign with the Hammers.

The 23-year-old was named in the Championship PFA Team of the Year after Sam Allardyce’s side won promotion back to the Premier League.

This will be the first time a British team has competed in the Olympics since the 1960 Games in Rome.

Senegal will provide the opening opposition for Pearce’s squad on Thursday, July 26, before clashes with the United Arab Emirates and Uruguay.

Speaking on his squad, Pearce said: “It has not been an easy task to finalise my squad for this tournament, and the stature of the competition and uniqueness of the occasion has underlined the importance of every choice I have made.

“With just 18 places it is very different from other international tournaments, the options are limited, but it is the Olympic Games and every player in this squad should be very proud they have a chance to compete for a gold medal on home soil.”

Team GB squad: Joe Allen (Swansea City), Craig Bellamy (Cardiff City), Ryan Bertrand (Chelsea), Jack Butland (Birmingham City), Steven Caulker (Tottenham Hotspur), Tom Cleverley (Manchester United), Jack Cork (Southampton), Craig Dawson (West Bromwich Albion), Ryan Giggs (Manchester United), Aaron Ramsey (Arsenal), Micah Richards (Manchester City), Danny Rose (Tottenham Hotspur), Scott Sinclair (Swansea City), Marvin Sordell (Bolton Wanderers), Jason Steele (Middlesbrough), Daniel Sturridge (Chelsea), Neil Taylor (Swansea City), James Tomkins (West Ham United).