Bentley snubbed over withdrawal

Blackburn Rovers manager Mark Hughes claims David Bentley has been left out of the England squad as punishment.

The midfielder pulled out of the England under-21 squad for the European Championships in the summer, claiming he needed to rest but his withdrawal came too late to allow manager Stuart Pearce to call up a replacement.

With David Beckham nursing an ankle injury, Bentley could have been called up for the friendly against Germany but Hughes has been told the England boss has decided to leave him out.

Hughes said: "Steve McClaren said that was part of it, there was a price to pay and he said David has paid it this time.

"We are not going to make any apologies for the decision made by ourselves and David because we are convinced it was the right decision.

"David has just got to concentrate on what he does here and if he plays well I am sure he will get opportunities at senior level and Steve McClaren has said that himself to me."

Bentley has been tipped to earn his first call-up into the England squad this season and Hughes is convinced he can make that step while playing for Blackburn.

He added: "David is a young man that wants to be as successful as he can and to play at the highest level and he is at a club that will help him to do that. But on the international scene he is at the mercy of other people who have to pick him and to see the qualities that he has."

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