Source: Team_Talk
Bruce backs Bent to shine
Sunderland boss Steve Bruce is backing striker Darren Bent to prove his World Cup credentials against Manchester United on Sunday.[LNB] England coach Fabio Capello will have his representatives at the Stadium of Light as United attempt to keep their title bid on track, and will give Bent another chance to prove he should be on the plane to South Africa.[LNB]Bent scored his 25th goal of the season at Hull last Saturday and only Wayne Rooney of the frontmen at Capello's disposal can boast a better record this season.[LNB]Bruce said: "I know the England representatives are here at the weekend.[LNB]"If you take Rooney out of the equation, he's almost got more goals than [Jermain] Defoe, [Peter] Crouch and [Emile] Heskey put together, so surely he must be in with an outstanding chance to take part in the squad.[LNB]"In big games you need somebody to score you a goal and God forbid if something happened to Rooney, have we got enough firepower from people who can score a goal?[LNB]"We have watched Darren repeatedly now, not just this year, but even last year he got close to 20 goals and played half the games, and I remember him scoring 22 for Charlton when they were relegated, so we know he is capable in a great league.[LNB]"I just hope he gets his reward."[LNB]Bent cost Sunderland £10million from Tottenham last summer, but has already paid off a massive proportion of that fee and fully justified Bruce's decision to make him the club's record signing.[LNB]He has prospered in the north east after a difficult spell at White Hart Lane, being voted player of the year in a poll on the club's website, and Bruce is convinced he can take his form onto the international stage.[LNB]Bruce said: "He has enjoyed being Sunderland's centre-forward, he has enjoyed the mantle of being the record signing here.[LNB]"When you look at the top of the charts - and for a team that's been in the bottom half of the league for the vast majority of the season - and you go Rooney, [Didier] Drogba, Bent, it's quite fantastic for us as a club and for him.[LNB]"It would be great if we could have Sunderland's centre-forward playing for England at the World Cup, great for him and great for us."[LNB]
