Sunderland Football Club News

• Nickname:Black Cats
• Founded:1879
• Manager:Martin O'Neill

• Ground:Stadium of light
• Capacity:48,353

Bent urged to stay patient

09 Oct 2009 - 12:20:43

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Sunderland boss Steve Bruce has urged Darren Bent to remain patient as he looks to play his way into the reckoning for a place in England's World Cup squad.

Bent has scored seven goals for the Black Cats already this season following his summer arrival from Tottenham.

However, the in-form striker was still overlooked by Fabio Capello in his latest international squad for the World Cup qualifiers against Ukraine and Belarus.

"No disrespect to Darren, but I wasn't that surprised because if you analyse Fabio Capello, he hasn't made many changes from the day he took over," said Bruce.

"He's an experienced manager - he's been there and worn the t-shirt - and thinks, why should he change anything when people have done well for him, as the England team have over the last 18 months?

"The clamour is for Darren. All he can do is keep playing well and I'm sure his chance will come, it's as simple as that.

"Whether he can break in now to a World Cup squad, who knows? There's still six months to go."