Source: Northern_Echo
Quinn confident Bent will make the final cut
TO many Darren Bent remains an outsider for a place in this summer's World Cup squad, but Niall Quinn feels the Sunderland striker possesses the qualities that can make him a vital part of Fabio Capello's plans.[LNB] Bent is due to meet up with the 30-man England party next week, when Capello will assess every player's merits before finalising his 23-strong pool after the friendlies with Mexico and Japan later this month.[LNB] The 26-year-old has forced his way into the reckoning after finishing this season with 25 goals. Yet he is by no means certain to avoid the cut, with Emile Heskey, Peter Crouch and Jermain Defoe all in competition to join Wayne Rooney in the ranks.[LNB] Quinn is still amazed the forward he agreed to pay £10m to Tottenham for last summer has not been assured of his place, although he is confident Capello will see sense and pick him.[LNB] If the Italian does, the Sunderland chairman has predicted Bent will develop in to an even greater striker having experienced on a personal level what appearing in the finals can do.[LNB] Quinn went to the World Cup in 1990 as a fringe player but, after scoring a memorable equaliser against Holland that secured qualification to the second phase, he went on to earn 92 caps and retired as his country's all-time leading goalscorer.[LNB] It's the biggest thing ever to go to a World Cup. It turned me into a footballer, said Quinn yesterday, after accepting a copy of England's 2018 World Cup Bid Book at the Stadium of Light.[LNB] I was a nervous young lad, struggling at Arsenal, who went to Manchester City in the March and then went to the World Cup in the June. I scored in the World Cup, came back an international and stayed in the Ireland team for ten years. It's huge. I cannot emphasise how big it is.[LNB] In relation to Darren's position now he has given himself a great chance. Will he get the nod because Mr Capello wants someone who can poach a goal, who has the knack of getting in those positions and scoring a goal Or does he play a safe player who will hold the ball up from long balls, like a Heskey or a Crouch[LNB] Darren has to prove he is hungry in the next couple of weeks by nipping in front of his man, at the right time, and then I think Capello might look favourably on him.[LNB] He might think this fella could be my Jack in the box, who I could throw on with 20 minutes to go, if we need something different'. That's his best chance.[LNB] It was the 1990 finals when coach Azeglio Vicini stunned Italy by calling up the uncapped Salvatore Schillaci, who emerged from nowhere to finish as the tournament's top-scorer.[LNB] Quinn is hoping Capello remembers his compatriot's heroics.[LNB] What encourages me is that Capello is Italian and Italy have always had one of those strikers who comes from nowhere to score goals for his country, said Quinn.[LNB] They had a Schillaci, a Paolo Rossi, they have always had someone, a dark horse that no-one has really heard about in the build up to the tournament then bang, they come along and get goals.[LNB] If Capello wants one of those on the bench then Darren is the man. Darren is a different option. If he proves himself in training during the next couple of weeks then I think he will be on that plane.[LNB] Bent's displays for Sunderland this season have left his chairman thinking about trying to the close the gap on the Premier League's top eight.[LNB] If the former Tottenham striker does make it to South Africa, Quinn will be trying to concentrate on making slight adjustments to Steve Bruce's squad.[LNB] But he has made no progress on deals for Alan Hutton and John Mensah.[LNB] Tottenham are now hoping to receive more than the £9m they paid to Rangers, while Mensah's injury problems are making a quick deal difficult with former French champions Lyon.[LNB] Hamburg right-back Guy Demel was mentioned again yesterday as a possible alternative to Hutton.[LNB] Quinn said: The Mensah situation's a curious one for us because if you told me he'd play 38 games in a season I'd be over there right now to drive him here. I guess with Alan we need to have a Plan B.[LNB] The serious knee injury suffered by David Meyler has also left Sunderland searching for midfield reinforcements.[LNB]
