Bent wins England chance

CHARLTON striker Darren Bent was handed his first senior England call-up after Alan Smith turned down the chance of being selected — to play for Manchester United reserves.

Andrew Johnson was originally named in the 23-man squad for Wednesday's friendly against Denmark by Sven-Goran Eriksson, but pulled out with a hamstring problem after scoring in Crystal Palace's draw at Norwich.

Eriksson, who was already without Peter Crouch, then turned to Smith, only for the striker to insist that his lack of pre-season action would be better served by a full game for United's reserves, rather than sitting on England's bench.

The call-up took Bent by surprise, and the former Ipswich player initially thought someone was trying to wind him up.

Smith, who had made his displeasure clear at not starting England's game against Colombia on their summer tour of the US, can only hope Eriksson gives him another chance to win back his place.

After all, Crouch has yet to return to fitness, while Bent could impress the England coach, and as James Beattie, Darius Vassell and Emile Heskey have found before him Smith cannot be assured of being called up again next time.

Bent, 21, a £2.5 million (€3.6m) summer signing from Ipswich, was nevertheless hoping a dead leg would not harm his chances of making an impact in training this week, having shown his potential with two goals in Charlton's 3-1 win at Sunderland.

Having had a training ground collision with Matt Holland on Thursday, he had flown to the north-east with an ice pack strapped to his right leg.

Eriksson, who was unaware of Bent's injury when calling him up, has challenged him and others in his position to press their claims.

"It's very difficult to say who I will pick in May 2006 as a lot of things can change with new players coming up, those playing well last season now not playing so well," he said.

Although John Terry and Rio Ferdinand are set to be his central defensive pairing for next week's game and the World Cup qualifiers against Wales and Northern Ireland next month, the injured Sol Campbell should not give up hope just yet.

The Swede remains positive about his side's future prospects, brushing aside claims by Robbie Fowler, who was seen as a disruptive influence in the squad, that England would not win the World Cup while Eriksson was in charge.

He simply responded: "I don't really have any comments about that.

"I hope he is wrong, let's see next summer."

Indeed, as Smith and others may yet find to their cost, Eriksson only wants players who are 100% committed to the cause in his squad.

In dismissing the chances of Paul Scholes reversing his decision to retire from international football, he revealed: "When players retire and it goes on for one year, it's very difficult to take them back. I want to have happy players."