Impatient Blackburn Bentley driven by a burning ambition

To a time, at the start of this season, when the England coach would drop him from the squad for withdrawing from an Under 21 tournament.

Storming in: England's John Terry (left) and Steven Gerrard during a wet and windy training session at London Colney

A time when the same England boss would raise a brolly to the first spot of rain.

England's players could not see beyond the training pitch perimeter for coaches with umbrellas yesterday. Fabio Capello braved the weather but coaches at London Colney as part of their Pro Licence qualification appeared happy to risk ridicule to stay dry.

There was even a Wally with a brolly - Reading's Wally Downes. Fortunately for Bentley, there was no sign of the original. Steve McClaren has gone and once Bentley reminded himself of that he began to look forward with more optimism.

Bentley is ambitious. So ambitious that he hopes to secure a move from Blackburn to a club that can propel him to what he considers to be the next level. Champions League football, international football.

"I've done nothing so far," said a player who has not always been quite so humble.

"Everyone wants success. I wouldn't say I'm impatient, but I'm hungry for success. I don't run around in training every day for nothing.

"You've got to have the right attitude wherever you are, club or country. You've got to try to get in the team. I have to impress in this training camp. I want to be an England player. No one's going to give it to me.

"You're always under pressure to perform, but at the minute it's up to me to perform, train hard and improve as a player. I like the pressure. To be under pressure, with England. When you're out there, all eyes are on you and everyone's looking for you to fail. But it's a good feeling to do well."

For Bentley, the challenge is simple. Play well enough to secure that role on the right and end David Beckham's decade of dominance.

He might start against the USA tomorrow night but even then he will be in the former England captain's shadow.

Not only is the game against Beckham's adopted country, but before the match, Beckham will receive a gold cap from Sir Bobby Charlton to mark his 100th international appearance against France in March.

In the past, Bentley might have delivered a more spiky response but a cheeky gag was followed by sincere recognition of a senior colleague's achievements.

After noting that Beckham's 70-yard weekend wonder strike was into 'an open goal', he said: "I really respect David. What he's done for England, he's been brilliant. Just because I might play well in a few games doesn't mean I should replace someone like him and while I'm here I'll look to learn off him. Definitely."

Breaking into the England team is a serious business, as a Champions League final that involved nine of Capello's current internationals demonstrated last week.

"It was one of the best games I've seen this season," enthused Bentley. "They're the matches I want to play in. I want to reach the top but I haven't done that yet. I've not played in a big tournament, in the Champions League. But you look at the England squad and there are so many great players.

"On paper there isn't a better team in the world. Clearly we need to work better as a team. I think it's about belief.

"The foundation has now been laid with the new gaffer. Now we have to deliver."

They might well deliver tomorrow night. Immediately after that, however, it could prove more difficult.

Some players, in particular those who battled it out for two hours in Moscow last week, might be given permission to withdraw from the squad for Sunday's friendly in Trinidad.

Would Bentley object if they did? "It's none of my business," he said."Whoever makes that decision, it's up to them."

And after missing last summer's European Under 21 Championship because he was tired, it was probably the right answer.