28 February 2006
VIDEO: England training

Darren Bent is set for his England debut tonight - you can watch him score a sensational goal in training by clicking here.

England v Uruguay
International Friendly
Anfield
8.05pm, Wednesday 1 March 2006
Live on BBC1

The team to play Uruguay has been announced with Charlton striker Darren Bent a notable starter while Frank Lampard is absent due to a tightness in his hamstring.

Speaking the TheFA.com on Tuesday night, Tord Grip has hailed Bent, who will earn his first senior cap, as an explosive new talent and says he has all the hallmarks of a complete striker.

Bent, who will start alongside fellow young marksman Wayne Rooney at Anfield, has impressed Grip and Eriksson with his work-rate and fine finishing since the team met up on Monday.

"He's been very sharp in every training session he's played with us, but particularly over the last couple of days. I hope that he can take that into the game now," said Tord.

"I think his finishing has really improved this season. At Ipswich it might have been the case that he'd take three chances to get a goal. Now, he looks like he can score from nearly every chance he gets. That is the sign of a very good striker and we are always on the look-out for goalscorers.

"We have been keeping an eye on him for a while now because he had such a good scoring record for the Under-21s and the U19s before that. He has scored goals at every level he's played."

Tord added: "I'm looking forward to seeing him play with Wayne Rooney too. It adds an exciting element to the game and I think that partnership should provide him with lots of opportunities to get on the scoresheet.

"He's fast, he's strong and he's good in the air. He has all the qualities that we look for in a striker."

Meanwhile, Lampard misses the game in Liverpool: "Frank felt a tightness in his hamstring in training today and was immediately withdrawn by England's medical staff as we do not want to take any risks," explained Adrian Bevington, The FA's Director of Communications.

"He will travel back to London tonight."

Starting Eleven
Paul Robinson
Gary Neville
Wayne Bridge
Rio Ferdinand
John Terry
Michael Carrick
Steven Gerrard
David Beckham
Joe Cole
Wayne Rooney
Darren Bent

Log-on tomorrow to see what Tord's views are on Darren Bent's fellow new starter, Tottenham's Michael Carrick.