Charlton Athletic 0 Aston Villa 0: Bent in good shape to put England case

The Swede has another decision to make on Wednesday, namely how much playing time he should give to Darren Bent, the Charlton striker who turned 22 earlier this month. Six times he has been called but never has he served his country on the pitch and the friendly against Uruguay is the latest, and probably last, opportunity for Bent to make his case.

With less than three months to go before Eriksson names his World Cup squad and no more England games in that time, Bent has to prove against the South Americans at Old Trafford that he is worth a place as a back-up to Michael Owen and Wayne Rooney.

With Peter Crouch regarded as in possession of the third striker's berth, Bent is left to fight it out with the likes of Jermain Defoe and Andy Johnson to be named as the fourth and final forward in Eriksson's squad for Germany.

Alan Curbishley made a case for his player to be given a chance. The Charlton manager, who has seen the man he signed from Ipswich last summer score 13 goals in 26 League games, said: "You should use this friendly. It's not like the Australia game three years ago [when Eriksson fielded different teams in each half]. We know how Rooney and Owen play.

"Bent is clinical, he makes the goalkeeper work. He won't freeze if he plays. He can't think of the World Cup yet but if he gets in the squad and there are injuries, well, things can change."

Against David O'Leary's Villa, Bent was true to his manager's word and made the goalkeeper work, using his pace and strength to test Thomas Sorensen twice in the first half. A third effort that might have beaten the Dane was deflected wide and he did not add to his 17 goals in all competitions this season.

Still, he is the highest-scoring English striker in the Premiership at present.

Aston Villa should have had the best chance of all to test Sorensen's opposite number, Thomas Myhre, when with half an hour remaining Jonathan Spector fouled Milan Baros, but the referee, Chris Foy, denied the appeals for a penalty. That went in the Addicks' favour and Bent will hope the next big decision goes for him too.

Charlton Athletic (4-4-2): Myhre; Young, Perry, Hreidarsson, Spector; Kishishev, Holland (El Karkouri, 71), B Hughes (Euell, 62), Ambrose; M Bent (Bothroyd, 57), D Bent. Substitutes not used: Andersen (gk), Powell.

Aston Villa (4-4-2): Sorensen; A Hughes (Moore, h-t), Mellberg, Delaney, Samuel; Milner, Davis, McCann, Barry; Angel (Phillips, 65), Baros. Substitutes not used: Taylor (gk), Hendrie.

Referee: C Foy (Merseyside).

Booked: Aston Villa Barry.

Man of the match: D Bent.

Attendance: 26,594.