Bruce - Bent a must for England

Sunderland boss Steve Bruce insists Darren Bent has to be a 'must' for England's World Cup squad.

Bent has been in superb form for Sunderland this season, but his credentials for England have been questioned following a below-par display in the recent friendly against Brazil.

The former Tottenham and Charlton man is battling a number of other strikers for a place in Fabio Capello's squad, but Bruce believes Bent deserves a place for the trip to South Africa.

"He has to go in my opinion," Bruce told Sky Sports News.

"He will always have to go and I hope he does, but there is still six months to go.

"If he keeps scoring and keeps playing the way he is he must be in with a good chance."

Bent believes Capello has already decided the majority of the players who will be in his squad and he is determined to keep himself in the Italian's thinking by doing well for Sunderland.

"I am sure he knows what he wants to do already," said Bent. "He's an intelligent guy he's got a good footballing brain.

"I am sure he has got a rough idea of the squad and all I can do is keep scoring goals and playing well to try and influence that."

Thankful

Bent has scored nine goals in 13 Premier League games and the 25-year-old has thanked Bruce for bringing him to Sunderland and giving him the chance of regular first-team football after a disappointing spell at Spurs.

"Steve Bruce has given me that opportunity and I always believed if I got that opportunity to play week in, week out then goals would flow and this season's been no different," added Bent.

Bent feels Sunderland can qualify for Europe this season and the least they should be aiming for is a top ten finish.

Asked about the club's ambitions this season, Bent said: "Definitely Europe or definitely I am sure we can stay in the top ten because of the way the team is playing at the moment. Even when we have lost, people who saw us against Spurs know we were magnificent - the team played really, really well."