IPSWICH boss Joe Royle today insisted that ex-Town striker Darren Bent is the man for England.Royle believes the in-form Bent should replace the suspended Wayne Rooney in tomorrow's vital World Cup qualifier against Austria at Old Trafford.

By Mel Henderson

IPSWICH boss Joe Royle today insisted that ex-Town striker Darren Bent is the man for England.

Royle believes the in-form Bent should replace the suspended Wayne Rooney in tomorrow's vital World Cup qualifier against Austria at Old Trafford.

He said: “If I were England boss this weekend I would be giving Darren Bent his first senior cap.”

Bent, 21, moved from Portman Road to join Charlton Athletic in a £2.5 million summer deal and has taken the Premiership by storm this season.

He has netted seven top-flight goals - an average of one per game - and added another in the Carling Cup, making him second to only Manchester United star Ruud van Nistelrooy in the scoring chart.

Royle said: “I would be lying if I said I wasn't the slightest bit surprised by Benty's start to life in the Premiership. I expected it might take him a little bit longer to get into his stride.

“Benty is in the best scoring form of his career so far. There's an old saying - when you're hot you're hot - and that would persuade me to pick him.”

But although Bent has an army of admirers, Sven Goran Eriksson is unlikely to name him in his starting line-up and instead put him on the bench.