Bent had been expected to leave White Hart Lane this summer after a decidedly indifferent season that saw him stranded on the bench for the most part, even with Jermain Defoe’s January departure.
The 24-year-old scored six goals in 27 league appearances following his £16.5million move from Charlton Athletic last year, a return that saw him win the unenviable title of ’super-flop’.
Lilywhites boss Juande Ramos was expected to sell Bent as part of the squad renovation that has seen the likes of Pascal Chimbonda, Teemu Tainio, Steed Malbranque and Younes Kaboul leave the club.
However, the enforced sale of Robbie Keane to Liverpool and the lingering uncertainty over Dimitar Berbatov’s future have caused Ramos to keep hold of the former Ipswich man for the time being - a decision that could prove to be a stroke of genius, if pre-season form is anything to go by.
For Bent has amassed some 12 goals during the summer, and his efforts have not gone unnoticed by Capello and his staff.
The Italian tactician’s assistant, Franco Baldini, was in the stands as Bent netted an impressive brace in Spurs’ 5-0 demolition of Roma, and the England boss said: “Baldini told me he [Bent] played very well.”
Bent’s recent run could scarcely be better timed, as the fitness concerns of Michael Owen and Wayne Rooney leave him as the country’s in-form forward heading into the Czech Republic friendly on August 20.
And Capello admitted that players who have been performing regularly and well during the off-season will have a huge advantage when he sits down to finalise his squad for the Wembley clash.
“It’s important that the players who I put in the squad for the Czech game have been getting games in pre-season because it’s impossible to be fit if you haven’t been playing in the friendlies,” said Capello.
“I will trim my squad down on Saturday after the first part of the first day of the Premier League, but the most important games [involving Manchester United and Chelsea] are on Sunday, and that will be dangerous.
“Once the season starts, my players will need to be playing for their clubs. They’ll need official games. That’s very important.”
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