VIDEO: Bent joy at first goal
Wednesday, 08 September, 2010
Striker eyeing regular berth in Capello's side.
by Chris Hatherall
Click here to watch the FATV interview with Darren Bent
Darren Bent scored his first goal for the Three Lions to cap a great night for England in Basel - and set his sights on a regular first-team place.
The Sunderland striker scored England's third goal two minutes from the end of the 3-1 win in Switzerland that means Fabio Capello's side are top of Group G in the Euro 2012 qualifiers with two wins out of two.
And having missed out on the final 23-man squad for the World Cup in South Africa, Bent is keen to press his claims for a place in the starting line-up.
"It's obviously disappointing to miss out on the World Cup or any major tournament, but at the same time you have to keep your head down, keep working hard for your club and if you put in good performances you cannot be too far away."
Bent has scored goals wherever he has played, at Ipswich and Charlton and Tottenham before moving to the Stadium of Light just over a year ago, but had found it elusive to break his international duck in six previous appearances.
"I know I've had chances in previous games to get goals, but they've not gone in, but luckily tonight I put my foot though it and it went in."
Yet it looked like it would be another fruitless night for Bent when he broke away late in the game, along with Shaun Wright-Phillips, only for the winger's attempted pass to be intercepted with Bent in a great position.
"Wrighty and I broke through and he went to square the ball but it didn't get throughj, I wondered if I would get another chance."
But moments later the ball did reach Bent and he made no mistake, taking a touch before rifling the ball past Diego Benaglio with his left foot.
"Yes, fortunately Ashley Cole gave me a nice assist and I managed to put it away," he added.
"It's a great feeling."