Euro 2012 News: Sunderland striker Darren Bent ruled out of England match
The Three Lions will now not just have to play against Montenegro this Tuesday; in fact they will have to battle it out with their fate as they continue to face injury troubles.
The Sunderland forward, Darren Bent has been ruled out of England's Euro 2012 qualifier against Montenegro after suffering a groin injury in training on Monday.
Just recently Bent had started making his appearances for England, and last month in the match against Switzerland he scored his first goal. It was expected that the player would be opening for the Three Lions with Wayne Rooney, but now the plan has changed.
Manchester United’s star striker Rooney has currently been facing deterioration in his form, and hence his demotion has not occurred just on the international level but he has also been rested from the Red Devils starting line up.
On the other hand, Tottenham Hotspur’s forward Peter Crouch has received the honours of starting for England. He has been in excellent form having produced a number of assists already in the EPL season.
In the FIFA 2010 World Cup it was seen that Peter Crouch was not played in a single match, even though he gave an outstanding performance in the qualifiers and in the preceding season. Now it seems that the England manager Fabio Capello has finally learnt
from his mistakes, and therefore, will be playing the 29-year-old centre forward.
It is expected that Bent who joined Sunderland in 2009 will be partnering quite successfully with Crouch, as Bent has the pace and dribbling skills and Crouch has control and the finishing ability.
Capello has stated on the issue, “Darren Bent is out, he can't play. He suffered a little pain. It is hard on him after scoring the goal against Switzerland but this is the situation and I will play Crouch.”
On the Rooney issue his comments were similar to the media reports but he added that there was a chance of the 24-year-old playing, “Rooney will play. He is feeling good. I spoke with Wayne and he told me his ankle is okay. He trained fantastically and without
pain. He is in a good moment. I spoke with him about different things and he is happy.”
In the experience department England have Bolton Wanderers’ surprise entrance Kevin Davies who happens to be the only striker at a position of performing in the match, as this season he has constantly assisted the club with top notch performances.
At the age of 33 years he will become the oldest player to make his first appearance for England.
Previously Davies has played on the junior level, having acquired 3 Compton starred for the Three Lions at the age of 38. This happened back when he used to be at Southampton.
With England’s mainstream of talent out of the tournament due to injuries, it will be up to the remaining stars from the Golden Generation to step up as the saviours for the team and help the Three Lions in their comeback from a dismissive World Cup.
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