Bent backs Agbonlahor to lead England line

Aston Villa striker Darren Bent said Gabriel Agbonlahor is good enough for a place in the England team.

Agbonlahor’s chances of representing England have been limited due to injuries and reported differences with other players, meaning the 25-year-old has only clocked up three senior Three Lions call-ups.

However, his Villa team-mate Bent said the striker fits in with the other members of the team, while adding that if he gets over his injury problems there is no reason why he cannot shine for both club and country.

“He’s cool, all the lads get on with Gabby,” Bent told The Sun.

“I’d like to think me and Gabby could be picked for the same England squad again.

“When you’ve got that much pace and that explosiveness he’s always going to have problems with his hamstrings.

“If he can get over that there’s no reason why he can’t force himself in.

“At the start of last season his performances were fantastic.

“I know he maybe didn’t get the goals he would have liked in the second half of the season but it’s hard when you have injuries here and there.

“We all know what he is capable of and with a good run I’m sure he can show that for Villa and England.”

Hodgson’s men are currently mid-way through their Euro 2012 campaign, and having defeated Sweden on Friday, the Three Lions face co-hosts Ukraine in their final Group D game on Tuesday knowing that anything but a defeat will see them qualify for the quarter-finals.