Sunderland striker Darren Bent is aiming to play a key role as England look towards the qualification stages for the 2012 European Championship (9/1 to win Euro 2012).

Bent was set to play in England’s last friendly against Hungary at Wembley but had to pull out of the squad due to a back injury.

The former Tottenham Hotspur striker wanted to make a claim for a place in the starting XI to play alongside Wayne Rooney.

Bent recovered from the injury and scored in the Black Cats opening game of the season against Birmingham at the Stadium of Light.

The 26-year-old had a strong season for Sunderland in their last campaign, scoring 24 Premier League goals, and looks set to continue that form after getting off to a good start last weekend.

Despite being one of the Premier League’s top English goalscorers Bent failed to make Fabio Capello’s World Cup squad.

The Three Lions had a disappointing tournament in South Africa this summer with Jermaine Defoe the only striker to get on the score sheet for England.

Bent believes that he can make an impact on the international stage as England (6/1 not to qualify for Euro 2012) look to put the World Cup behind them.

He said: “I saw him [Capello] at the last squad and when I had to pull out, he said it was unfortunate, but he told me to keep working hard and more opportunities would come, and hopefully they will.

“I was selected for the first squad after the World Cup – it was just unfortunate about my back.

“But I know there’s a qualifier coming up and if I can keep knocking them in for Sunderland again and playing well, there is no reason why I can’t be in that squad.”

Bent was disappointed not to make the 23-man squad that flew to South Africa and did consider retiring from international football.

Blackburn Rovers keeper Paul Robinson and Manchester United defender Wes Brown have both announced early retirements from England duty, but Bent was determined to make himself available ahead of the Euro qualifications.

He said: “I sat and talked to my family and all my friends. You get people with different views and there’s a time when you start thinking, ‘Is there a chance for me?’, ‘Am I ever going to get that chance?’

“But you can’t think like that, you have just got to keep working hard, keep focusing, keep believing, which is what I do, and hopefully it will come.”

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