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Darren Bent has vowed to keep trying to impress Fabio Capello after again being overlooked for England duty.
Capello saw the striker put Sunderland ahead at Manchester United on Saturday with a precision finish but then called up Gabriel Agbonlahor in place of the injured Jermain Defoe for the World Cup qualifiers against Ukraine and Belarus.
Bent has been on target seven times in the Premier League this season, making him the leading homegrown goalscorer.
The former Tottenham striker said: “I've gave a good account of myself on Saturday but I've been knocking them in all season and have yet to get a call-up.
“I just have to keep knocking on the door with my performances for Sunderland. I'll just have to keep banging them in. I'm in good form, my confidence is high and I feel I can score goals at any level. This won't knock my confidence.”
Manchester United goalkeeper Ben Foster will miss the England games because of a chest injury the club say he suffered against Sunderland. Foster has been struggling in recent matches and was blamed for Sunderland's second goal at Old Trafford, when Kenwyne Jones showed more strength in an aerial duel.
England squad to face Ukraine on 10 October and Belarus on 14 October: Rob Green, David James, Paul Robinson; Wayne Bridge, Wes Brown, Ashley Cole, Rio Ferdinand, Glen Johnson, Joleon Lescott, John Terry, Matthew Upson; Gareth Barry, David Beckham, Michael Carrick, Steven Gerrard, Frank Lampard, Aaron Lennon, James Milner, Shaun Wright-Phillips; Gabriel Agbonlahor, Carlton Cole, Peter Crouch, Emile Heskey, Wayne Rooney.
Reader views (2)
Adrian my boy, when are you Tottenham lads going to realise that you are not a big team. Darren Bent is now playing in a REAL team, which is run professionally with a support base that Spurs can only dream of. I believe you will finish above us this year, but wait till next year.
- Jon, London
Darren, you should of shown it at Tottenham, not Sunderland! You went to a team, which is your type of team, like Charlton. You need to get recognised at a big club not small one...What you are doing for Sunderland, you needed to pull your socks up at Spurs!
- Adrian, london
