Bentley's country drive is lifting Blackburn

Bentley goes head-to-head with David Beckham this week as Fabio Capello wrestles with the decision over who starts against France on Wednesday.

The 23-year-old has never lacked raw talent, but there was definitely something missing from his make-up when Arsene Wenger let him leave Arsenal.

Scroll down for more

Having found a mentor in Mark Hughes, who truly believes in him, the midfielder has come of age.

Bentley's performances have improved steadily throughout the season, but it is the air of confidence and utter belief he has acquired since breaking into the England squad that has lifted him to the next level.

That swagger was apparent in a mature display that ensured Blackburn overcame the early loss of Christopher Samba to a red card to keep alive their hopes of securing sixth position and a place in this summer's Intertoto Cup.

Many more displays like this, though, and the growing interest being shown in Bentley will be transformed into big money offers the Lancashire club will do well to ignore.

Bentley's contract still has three years to run, but Hughes has already opened negotiations in a bid to tie down the player's long-term future.

"I have played with so many good players and won the Champions League at Bayern Munich but I can imagine David playing in the best teams in the world," said Roque Santa Cruz, whose two goals on Saturday were both set-up by Bentley.

"It is hard to say if Blackburn can keep him because, if the player wants to try something different with a bigger team, then it is very hard for him not to take it."

Blackburn were in control against Wigan from the moment Chris Kirkland failed to deal with Bentley's 12thminute shot and Santa Cruz headed in the rebound.

Samba's foul on Heskey earned a red card and allowed Marlon King to level from the penalty spot but Jason Roberts put Blackburn back ahead on the stroke of half-time against his old club and Santa Cruz headed a third midway through the second half.

Any remaining Wigan hopes ended with Wilson Palacios' 69th-minute sending-off for a second yellow card, meaning manager Steve Bruce will be without three suspended midfielders — the Honduran, Jason Koumas and Michael Brown — next week as well as Erik Edman, who faces surgery on a knee injury.

"A week ago we were talking about possibly qualifying for Europe through the Fair Play League and now we've had two men sent off," said Bruce.

"It's going to be hard to prepare for next week and we've got 10 players jetting off around the world."