McClaren calls on Bent
Sunday, 18 November, 2007
Steve McClaren has called Darren Bent into the England squad for the crucial clash with Croatia on Wednesday.
Steve McClaren has called on Tottenham Hotspur striker Darren Bent after losing Michael Owen to injury, and revealed that Owen Hargreaves will rejoin the squad ahead of the crunch clash with Croatia.
With Wayne Rooney already missing through injury, McClaren has called Bent into the squad to bolster the attacking options, while Hargreaves' return is further welcome news.
McClaren said: "I said after the game on Friday there is enough in that dressing room, there are good enough players to get the result we need. I have called up Darren Bent and Owen Hargreaves will join us.
"Owen has good experience and he is playing regularly for United. Expectations I know are great, but you can't do it without the fans.
"It's about sticking together, being positive and getting behind the team. We have got no excuses, we have to perform, and it would be a great boost to get the media, fans and people on the street behind us."
McClaren also revealed that he missed the winning goal from Israel, but knew it was good news thanks to the shouts from his children.
"Unbelievable. I had slipped to the bathroom but heard a big scream from my two boys and gathered from that, unbelievably, that Israel had got the winner, it didn't seem like that when the game was poised at 1-1.
"But that's football, we are grateful. Israel are a proud nation. Not that I watched the majority of it but the key moments when it was a case of an agonising 95 minutes but getting the right result and we end up right exactly what I thought at the beginning - needing a result against Croatia to go through."