15 August 2005
Darren Bent: Press Conference

Darren Bent on his reaction to a first-ever England call-up and his hopes ahead of Wednesday's match.


Darren Bent says he is taking inspiration from Michael Owen and Wayne Rooney after earning a surprise call-up to the England squad.

Bent is hoping to make his senior debut when the Three Lions take on Denmark in Copenhagen on Wednesday - and make a last-gasp claim for World Cup action.

The Charlton striker admits he wasn’t even thinking about international football this season when he moved to London from Ipswich.

But after eight goals in 12 matches at Under-21 level he suddenly has a chance to force his way into Sven-Goran Eriksson’s World Cup thinking.

He said: "A lot of people have come from nowhere and made a claim for a place by doing well for their club.

"Michael Owen did it and even Wayne Rooney recently. You look at people like that for inspiration and think if they can do it then you can do it as well. You just take massive confidence from that.

"But to be honest my first aim when I joined Charlton was just to do well for them and establish myself as one of their main two strikers. To be here now with England is a massive bonus.

"Even now I’m not even thinking about the World Cup squad, just about getting a part in the game in Wednesday and then getting back to Charlton. If I can do well for them then hopefully I’ll get more England honours."

Bent dealt admirably with his first England press conference yesterday, looking calm and confident as he answered questions from journalists at Sopwell House.

Now he hopes to take that same attitude onto the pitch in Copenhagen. And after earning a reputation as a ‘super sub’ with England Under-21s he won’t be shy to come off the bench and make an impact.

He said: "I don’t think anyone likes to be known as a super sub because you want to play from the start, but it just so happens I have come off the bench for the Under-21s and scored goals.

"If it’s a part you’ve got to play you can’t really argue with it to be honest. And if I even get on the pitch on Wednesday it will be a massive bonus."