Bent will miss England clash

Bent has a fine scoring record in the Premier League (GETTY IMAGES)

Sunderland striker Darren Bent is out of England's friendly clash with France next week after a scan confirmed he has a grade one hamstring injury.

The 26-year-old is expected to be sidelined for up to three weeks with the problem, which he suffered in training on Friday ahead of his club's Barclays Premier League fixture against Stoke.

Bent, who had not previously missed a league game for his latest club, has eight goals for the Black Cats already this season, and scored for the first time for England in the 3-1 European Championship qualifier victory in Switzerland on September 7.

In his absence, record signing Asamoah Gyan scored both goals in Saturday's 2-0 win over the Potters.