Injury blow for Bent
Darren Bent has been forced to withdraw from the England squad and is a doubt for Sunderland's season opener.The Black Cats striker was one of five players who were forced to sit out training with the Three Lions on Monday.
A back problem prevented him from joining in with the rest of the squad and he has now been ruled out of Wednesday's friendly date with Hungary.
The news comes as a major blow to all concerned, with England looking to bounce back from their dismal showing at the World Cup finals.Bent was not among those to have faltered in South Africa, having been left out of the squad, and he was desperate to make his mark this time around.
Having shone for Sunderland during his debut season at the Stadium of Light, many felt Fabio Capello was wrong to overlook him this summer.
The Italian, who has been under pressure to alter his approach and usher in a new era of young talent, was prepared to listen to those calls and handed Bent another opportunity to shine.
However, that chance has been cruelly snatched away and Bent will now be nothing more than an interested spectator in midweek.
The former Tottenham and Charlton frontman currently has six senior caps to his name, but is yet to break his scoring duck for his country.
His time will undoubtedly come again, especially if he can reproduce his form from 2009/10, but for now he has been left cursing his luck.
Sunderland boss Steve Bruce will also be unhappy after hearing of the untimely blow, with the Black Cats set to get their Premier League campaign up and running against Birmingham on Saturday.
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