Bent ready to face United cup challenge head-on

Manchester United, Derby County, or Burnley? Who would you like to avoid with a Wembley final at stake?

Not the most difficult of questions but Darren Bent, in the afterglow of a victory achieved by his goal off the bench, was perhaps too high on adrenalin to consider his answer fully. "I'd be happy to get Man United in the next round. Definitely," said Bent yesterday after Tottenham's Carling Cup quarter-final dispatch of Watford at Vicarage Road on Wednesday. "We beat Chelsea in the final last year so there's no reason we can't beat Man United if we get them. We might as well face them, because if we don't get them this round, we would get them next anyway."

Harry Redknapp, Spurs' manager, had been more circumspect in looking ahead to tomorrow's semi-final draw, admitting he would like to avoid United not least because he expected Sir Alex Ferguson to field a strong XI. Bent, though, noted that the holders Spurs had already beaten Newcastle and [an understrength] Liverpool in this year's run.

Last year Bent watched the final from the bench which, he said, gave him extra motivation this time. "I was delighted for the boys, but on a personal level I was disappointed not to get on the pitch. No one ever remembers unused subs, so I want to get there again and stake a claim."

Bent was omitted on Wednesday, partly, said Redknapp, to give him a jolt as he had "taken his foot off the pedal" in recent weeks, and partly to rest him. Bent said he accepted that but, "if we get to the final, it will be different story as I would be moaning if I didn't play. The league is the priority but being so close to a final, you want to win it. Everyone wants to win a cup competition."