Source: Northern_Echo
Bent handed chance to clinch World Cup place
SUNDERLAND striker Darren Bent will spend the next few weeks trying to prove he is worthy of making Fabio Capello's final cut after being named in a provisional World Cup squad.[LNB] Bent's reward for scoring 25 goals in his first season at the Stadium of Light was his inclusion in the pool of 30 that makes up Capello's provisional England squad for the finals.[LNB] Easington-born winger Adam Johnson's rise to prominence also gathered pace with his own place in the squad, a little more than three months after leaving Middlesbrough in the Championship.[LNB] Both will head to Austria in five days' time for a training get-together and they are hoping to have the chance to shine during friendlies with Mexico and Japan on May 24 and May 29 respectively.[LNB] Manchester United midfielder Michael Carrick, from Wallsend, and Tottenham defender Michael Dawson, from Northallerton, are also in the 30-man squad. That will be reduced to 23 on May 30, when all four will be hoping to have done enough to form part of the World Cup squad.[LNB] Bent, having had to wait since last November's outing against Brazil in Doha for a recall, is certainly taking nothing for granted. But after being named as one of five strikers along with Wayne Rooney, Emile Heskey, Peter Crouch and Jermain Defoe he is confident he can shine in South Africa.[LNB] I'm really happy and it's a weight off my shoulders, said Bent, who could become the first Sunderland player to go to a World Cup since Stan Anderson in 1962.[LNB] This tops off a fantastic season but the hard work starts here. It's all about trying to get into that final 23 now. There's some top, top players in the squad. I've done well this season but now I have to take it to the next level and make sure Mr Capello can't leave me behind. Mr Capello knows what we can all do. It's up to me to show that I can play at the top level.[LNB] Only Didier Drogba and Wayne Rooney have scored more goals in the Premier League than Bent this season and the man who paid £10m to Tottenham last summer has backed him to go one step further.[LNB] He has all the attributes needed to make a big impact on the international stage,[LNB] said Sunderland boss Steve Bruce. Darren's finishing ability is exceptional and that's a key asset when you're playing on a big stage like the World Cup.[LNB] Bent has been preferred to Bobby Zamora, Carlton Cole and Gabriel Agbonlahor, although Capello hinted Zamora is unfortunate to miss out.[LNB] It was one of the last decisions that I took, he said. I spoke to him and it was up to him because he can't train every day, he plays always with injections and probably he needs an operation (on his Achilles).[LNB] Capello's decision to include former Middlesbrough winger Johnson has come at the expense of omitting his ex-Riverside team-mate Stewart Downing.[LNB] Johnson's exciting performances since moving to Manchester City on February 1 have earned his call-up, a callup which could trigger a £1m further payment to Middlesbrough if he earns his first cap.[LNB] He is a really interesting player, said Capello. He's one of the younger players most interesting in the Premier League. I want to check him out during the training camp.[LNB] Capello has a number of injury concerns before he has to name his final 23-man squad.[LNB] He has question marks over the fitness of Ledley King, Gareth Barry and Rooney while Owen Hargreaves missed out due to a long-term problem.[LNB] Barry is the most worrying because of his ankle injury.[LNB] Capello, who has included former Newcastle midfielder Scott Parker and Chelsea's Joe Cole, said: I decided to put him in the 30 because the next medical check will be May 24 and after this check we will decide what we can do.[LNB] The Italian did admit he launched an unsuccessful bid to lure Paul Scholes out of retirement, something which Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher opted for after chatting with the England coaching staff.[LNB] There were no guarantees for Carragher that he will be boarding the plane to South Africa, but he has been included along with King because of long-time squad men Wes Brown and Joleon Lescott are ruled out through injury.[LNB] There are also doubts remaining over first-choice central defenders Rio Ferdinand and John Terry.[LNB]
