Source: PA
Bent's England injuries baffle Bruce
Sunderland are to contact the Football Association to see if they can come up with a solution to striker Darren Bent's England injury misery.
Three times in the past few months the 26-year-old has withdrawn from Fabio Capello's squad, the latest for Tuesday night's frustrating 0-0 Euro 2012 qualifier draw with Montenegro, which he was due to start.
Bent missed the pre-World Cup finals friendly against Mexico with a hamstring problem and was subsequently left out of the squad for South Africa and reported for the August clash with Hungary carrying a back strain which ultimately forced him to pull out.
The former Tottenham frontman returned to Wearside earlier this week after suffering a groin injury in training and is a doubt for Monday's Barclays Premier League trip to Blackburn.
However, while club boss Steve Bruce hopes Bent has simply been unfortunate, the Black Cats are planning to discuss the situation with their England counterparts.
The 49-year-old said: "It's quite staggering because I don't think he has missed a day's training here, I don't think he has missed a game since he has been here. Unfortunately, that is now two or three times he has gone with England - whether it is different techniques or what have you, I am not quite sure. Obviously, we are going to have to speak with the medical people and the doctors with England because it seems to be an occurrence that he has picked up an injury two or three times when away with England."
