DAVID Bentley was today hoping he had done enough to win a recall to the England squad.

The Blackburn Rovers midfielder staked a strong claim for a call-up with a stunning goal and a man-of-the-match performance against MyPa-47 in the UEFA Cup last night.

Rovers manager Mark Hughes feels the time is right' for Bentley to be welcomed back into the England fold after he was overlooked for the friendly with Germany earlier this month.

And Bentley was keeping his fingers crossed this morning that he would be included in Steve McClaren's 23-man squad for the forthcoming Euro 2008 qualifiers with Israel and Russia, which was due to be announced at noon today.

Bentley said: "I'll keep working hard and keep enjoying my football. If I get a call for England, brilliant, I'll grab it with both hands.

"Hopefully, I can make that step up to the England side.

"I hope to make it but there's so many good players at England level, I think we're one of the best teams in the world on paper.

"If it happens for me it will be great, and if not I'll just keep playing and keep working hard."

Bentley seemed to damage his international prospects when he pulled out of the Under-21 European Championships in the summer, and was subsequently left out of the senior squad for the recent friendly with Germany.

But with a series of injury problems robbing McClaren of David Beckham, Aaron Lennon and Kieron Dyer, Bentley has been tipped for a recall for two games that could ultimately make or break the England manager's career.

Hughes offered the midfielder his full backing, saying: "Everybody knows my feelings about David.

"He's a great young talent and he's worked extremely hard over the last 12 months.

"We're delighted at how he's played for Blackburn Rovers. If that means he makes the step up we'd be delighted, but that's not my decision."