On 23 February 2012, despite only scoring six league goals in four years, Campbell received his first call-up to the England squad for the friendly versus the Netherlands. Interim England manager Stuart Pearce had stated his ambitions to select untried young players for the friendly which would take place on 29 February. Pearce had given Campbell all 14 of his under-21 caps. Campbell made his debut as a substitute for Danny Welbeck in the 80th minute, as England lost 3–2 due to an injury-time game-winning goal by Arjen Robben.