DAVID Bentley insists he withdrew from the England Under-21s European Championship squad in order to "make a push" for a place in the senior squad in time for Euro 2008.

The Blackburn midfielder has angered under-21s boss Stuart Pearce by pulling out and leaving the squad a man short ahead of their first game in the tournament on Monday, although Bentley contends the discussions over whether he would play or not have gone on for a fortnight.

Bentley revealed he had sought the advice of players in the England senior squad, who warned him he would "hit a brick wall" in the autumn if he played throughout the summer, and also spoke to England manager Steve McClaren, who recommended he play for the under-21s in Holland.

The former Arsenal man, who played over 50 games for Rovers last season and is set to play for them in their pre-season Intertoto Cup campaign, has been tipped to make the step up to the senior team and believes he must rest now or be flat out by the time Euro 2008 rolls around.

He said: "All I can say is the decision was a two-week decision. When I first found out I was going to be included in the squad Blackburn and myself took the appropriate measures and ways and discussed it with the management. It came to a point where I had to pull myself out of the squad.

"I think it is for the betterment of my career. I owe a lot to the Blackburn fans and they're paying the money to watch me week-in and week-out."

Bentley told Pearce his decision personally and when asked what the manager's reaction was, he added: "He was disappointed as a manager should be and I fully accept that it was a controversial decision. I love playing for England, I love my country every time I step out on the pitch I give my all for anyone I play for. If you look at my under-21s career I have never not given my all for it.

"I had three decisions; the club could have pulled me out, I could have pulled myself out or I could have faked an injury. I am an honest lad, I'm not a robot and I wanted to give my decision and my opinion on it.

"I've never come off a 60-game season and then gone straight into another one, I was alien to it. It wasn't a rash decision, I asked senior players at England what do you feel like come October or November' and they said you hit a brick wall'.'If you want to be firing and you want to make a push for the European Championships next year then I really think you have got to think long and hard'."