Spain Under-21 v England Under-21
Under-21 Friendly International
Estadio Municipal et Val, Alcalá de Henares
16 November 2004

Darren Bent’s record for England under-21s currently reads as seven goals in nine games which is made all the more impressive by the fact that all his appearances have come as substitute.

On Tuesday night due to Jonathan Stead’s injury, the 20-year-old Ipswich striker gets his first start alongside Carlton Cole and not surprisingly, he can’t wait.

"Everyone wants to start for their country," says the Suffolk goal machine. "People have seen me score goals off the bench but I want to show I can do the same from the start.

"I’m looking forward to playing with Carlton. He has been a friend of mine since we played for England at youth levels. We are similar types of forward, we like the ball to feet and can make runs behind the defence as well so we will share the workload."

Bent has taken to international football remarkably well.

"David Platt gave me a chance against Turkey and I remember thinking how high the standard looked. But in my second game against Serbia, I scored the winner in the 90th minute and it gave me the confidence to go on from there.

"When I’m on the bench, I look at the game closely and try to see the areas I can capitalise on later in the game. Then it’s a case of hoping the delivery comes in and when it does, I try to score."

A game in Spain in southern Europe suits Bent who admits: "I would much prefer to be hot than freezing cold."

He could have been talking about his scoring streak rather than the weather.

Nine goals for Ipswich this season has pushed the club joint-top of the Championship.

"My favourite came against Burnley a couple of weeks ago because I banged it in with my weaker left foot," he says.

"If I had tried that last season, I don’t know where the ball had ended up so it was nice to see the work I had put in this season on my left foot paying off.

"It was an important goal as well because we were winning 1-0 at the time but being put under the cosh.

"Every season, Ipswich never seem to get a mention as promotion candidates and we do our best to prove them wrong.

"I think the manager Joe Royle has used it to our advantage and we are working hard.

"I played my first season as a 17-year-old in the Premiership. I’ve seen former team-mates like Darren Ambrose move to Newcastle and it would be fantastic for Ipswich to win promotion this season and play in the Premiership next season."