Sunderland

Bent has scored eight goals so far this season, including his first ever international goal in the 3-1 victory over Switzerland, and the 26-year-old feels he is ready to impress on the international stage.

However, Bent accepts that the decision is down to boss Fabio Capello, but if called on he is ready to fire England to victory.

“Naturally I’d love to start, but it’s not for me to guess what Mr Capello is going to do,” Bent told The Guardian.

“He has his own ideas, so who knows? He can surprise people.

“Knowing what I know already about the way the England manager works, my immediate goal is not starting the game but showing up well in training, because that is what he looks for.”

Wayne Rooney has been included in the 23-man squad to face Montenegro but there are still fears the Manchester United striker will miss out through an ankle injury – and Bent will almost certainly be handed a starting role if Rooney is not fully-fit.

Capello has selected four strikers to face Montenegro, with Spurs’ Peter Crouch and Bolton’s Kevin Davies also included in the squad, and the Italian tactician is likely to partner Bent with either Crouch or Davies if Rooney does not recover in time.

Bent missed out on the World Cup in the summer as Capello overlooked the Sunderland star, despite his impressive goal tally last season, but the striker is expected to be handed his chance to shine for England in the build up to the European Championships.

Bent has been described as “one of the important players for the future” by Capello and after scoring against the Swiss last time out hecould be handed another chance on Tuesday.

Bent admits he was frustrated to miss out on the World Cup and is delighted to have finally been given the opportunity to impress on the international stage.

However, the Sunderland striker insists he is not thinking as far ahead as the tournament proper in 2012, or the World Cup in 2014, as he is concentrating on securing regular action for the national side (England 9/1 to win Euro 2012).

He added: “The next World Cup is too far ahead to have as a target, so I’m looking to cement my place in the England set-up, maybe get a few more goals, and generally give myself the chance of reaching the Euros (in 2012).

“I’d love to go to a tournament with England, but it’s probably best not to look too far into the future. Just try to do well in the next game and take it from there.”

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Sunderland

The 26-year-old may have been overlooked for the Italian’s 2010 World Cup squad, when Wayne Rooney, Jermain Defoe, Emile Heskey and Peter Crouch got the nod.

But Capello insists he will be involved for his country now on, stating on the FA website: “Bent is back. In front of goal, he is really dangerous.

“He played 20 minutes against Switzerland and scored an important goal. Now he is training really well. He is probably one of the important players for the future.”

Bent failed to make the cut for the ill-fated trip to South Africa in the summer despite smashing 24 goals last term to finish second behind Rooney as the most prolific English striker in the Premier League.

The former Charlton and Ipswich star has successfully relaunched his career with the Black Cats after an unhappy spell with Tottenham between 2007-09.

The Londoner still managed 18 goals in 60 appearances for the White Hart Lane outfit, however he never really seemed to have the confidence of boss Harry Redknapp having been signed by Martin Jol.

Bent made the switch to the Stadium of Light for £10m although he could eventually cost Sunderland a reported £16.5m, if various add-ons become payable by the Wearsiders (Sunderland 9/1 – Top Six Finish).

England are not in action until Tuesday October 12 when they entertain Montenegro in a Euro 2012 qualifier, with Capello keen to give his squad as much rest as possible.

He confirmed: “A lot of players have played a lot of games before we play, I prefer to select the players for the game on Tuesday.

“Also I prefer not to play a friendly game on the Friday because we think that the Montenegro game will be really, really important.”

Capello added: “We know that in this period we are really good, the players are playing well and physically it is a really good moment.

“We have to wait five months for the next game with Wales, so we know what we have to do.”

England have got off to a storming start to their Euro 2012 qualification campaign, with back-to-back wins against Bulgaria and Switzerland to top Group G (Three Lions 1/25 – To Qualify).

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Sunderland

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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