Darren Bent is viewing England's international friendly with Spain as a chance to prove he can perform against the best opposition and help convince Fabio Capello to include him in his Euro 2012 squad.
Bent spearheads one of the least experienced strikeforces assembled by Capello, who will miss his son's wedding in Italy as it clashes with Saturday's game at Wembley and knows impressing against the reigning world and European champions can only enhance his chances of being on the plane to Poland and Ukraine.
Bent said: "I remember playing against Brazil a couple of years ago and thinking 'wow, I've never played a team like it'. This is going up another gear. Spain are the best team in the world, who won the last World Cup and the Euros."
He added: "They've got players out of this world and will be a great game to be involved in. It would be great to play against someone like Spain and prove you can handle yourself at that level.
"There is no-one better. They are the top, top level and you are going to meet people like them next summer so it's a chance to show what you can do."
Bent has slotted in effectively in tandem with Wayne Rooney, who has been left out of this squad following his three-match ban for the Euro finals while Capello experiments. But the Aston Villa player has had enough international setbacks to take nothing for granted.
He said: "Some people have said to me 'you are a regular player now for England' but I don't want to count my chickens because a lot has happened to me with England squads.
"My caution is after missing out on the 2010 finals. So much can change, even going back to 2006 when I got left out of those finals as well.
"I can't count my chickens but if I keep playing well, and the ball keeps flying in the net, then that's all I can do."
Source: PA
