Anton Ferdinand has said Darren Bent is in line to partner Wayne Rooney at the Fifa World Cup.
The centre-back said his Sunderland team-mate is as good as any other striker in the Premier League and should be a shoe-in for Fabio Capello's England squad if he can continue his current good form.
It is hard to argue with Bent's record this season, in which he has notched 18 goals for the Black Cats in the Premier League - behind only Didier Drogba and Wayne Rooney in the leading scorers chart.
Ferdinand said the former Tottenham and Charlton forward's efforts have been "incredible" and said Bent has more to offer the Fifa World Cup team than a predatory instinct.
"'He's up there with the best, but it's not just about the goals, it's his all-round game," he said.
Despite Bent's excellent form, he faces stiff competition from the likes of Peter Crouch, Jermain Defoe, Emile Heskey and Carlton Cole for inclusion in the Fifa World Cup squad.
Posted by Ted Walker