Tottenham boosted by Bentley return
Published 23:00 17/03/10 By John Cross
David Bentley is ready to give Tottenham a huge fitness boost - and has not given up on forcing his way into England's World Cup squad.
Fit-again Bentley is back in full training after a groin injury and is desperate to return for the trip to Stoke this weekend.
Bentley, 25, has rediscovered his form and fitness and is still on Fabio Capello's radar, especially because of England's worrying injury problems on the right wing.
Arsenal's fit-again Theo Walcott is back in form and is at the front of the queue after winning back his place in England's set-up for the friendly with Egypt earlier in the month.
But Capello has now lost former England captain David Beckham, 34, because of the Achilles injury he suffered on Sunday night while playing for AC Milan.
Tottenham winger Aaron Lennon, who appeared to be the front runner on the right, is still recovering from a groin injury.
Worryingly for Tottenham's Champions League chances and England, Spurs boss Harry Redknapp still does not know when Lennon will return, although the pint-sized winger is expected to start light running next week and is confident of playing before the end of the season and.
Shaun Wright-Phillips is also in the running, but is not guaranteed a place at Manchester City, and Capello would prefer width on the right to balance his team and that may yet present an opportunity for born-again Bentley.
Bentley has won seven caps and has played under Capello, but not since the friendly with the Czech Republic in August 2008.
His career went into freefall at Tottenham after losing his place in the Spurs team under Redknapp.
Bentley thought he was on his way out of White Hart Lane until January when Redknapp gave him another chance and snubbed interest from West Ham.
Ex-Arsenal trainee Bentley has since then played well, rediscovered his form and has now got a future at Tottenham - and potentially with England.
Capello and his assistant Franco Baldini kept tabs on Bentley for the friendly with Egypt and considered calling him up.
That would have marked a remarkable return for Bentley, but a groin injury has slowed his progress.
Yet despite Bentley's difficult season, his performances earned him rave reviews and even a tip for an England recall from Mirror columnist and former Blackburn team-mate Robbie Savage.
Capello's problems down the right have now given Arsenal winger Walcott, 21, another chance to regain his England place.
But it has also opened the door for Bentley and, despite only just forcing his way back in at Spurs, the midfielder is desperate to play for his country again.
That seemed impossible a few months ago, but if Bentley can regain his form, fitness and performances he may yet get another chance.
Capello will keep tabs on his right sided options until the end of the season before he names his 30-man squad at the end of May.
