Source: SKY_Sports
Bruce - Bent's time will come
// A bit of a hack but it works// The article snippet is wrapped onto a second line, even when #article-sub is emptyif( $("div#article-sub").children().length == 0 ) {$("div#article-sub").remove();} Sunderland boss Steve Bruce has backed Darren Bent to force his way back into the England fold.[LNB] The in-form striker does have four international caps to his name, but has not featured for his country in almost two years.[LNB]A switch to the Stadium of Light from Tottenham this summer was intended to provide him with an opportunity to change that, with regular first-team football on offer in the North East.[LNB]Bent has revelled in his new surroundings and has made a blistering start to his Black Cats career.[LNB]That has seen him mentioned once again as a possible candidate for a striking role with the Three Lions.[LNB]He was overlooked by Fabio Capello in the Italian's most recent selection, despite Jermain Defoe being absent through injury, but Bruce is confident the 25-year-old will get his opportunity to shine in the near future.[LNB]He said: "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.[LNB]"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?[LNB]"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.[LNB]"Whether he can break in now to a World Cup squad, who knows? There's still six months to go."[LNB]Work-rateBruce had to part with £10million in order to lure Bent away from Spurs and admits he is delighted to see the former Ipswich and Charlton ace providing an immediate return on that investment.[LNB]He told the Journal: "That's obviously what we have brought him here for, but when you do spend a lot of money like we have done, of course you want him to hit the ground running.[LNB]"It's not just his goalscoring, but his appetite to work. He's run over 12.5km during a game, which is a staggering achievement.[LNB]"He's also a goalscorer and brings a work ethic from the front two, which is important.[LNB]"When you start comparing him in the same breath as [Fernando] Torres and [Emmanuel] Adebayor and all these top strikers, he's up there with them.[LNB]"For a Sunderland centre-forward to be up there with them and to have Kenwyne [Jones] coming up behind like a steam train, it bodes well.[LNB]"But we can't get carried away. We are doing OK and Darren's doing OK. I hope that continues."[LNB]
