ENGLAND manager Steve McClaren said he was happy to bring David Bentley into the squad having left the 22-year-old midfielder out of this month's friendly with Germany.

The omission was punishment for his controversial decision to withdraw from the summer's European Under-21 Championships at such a late stage that manager Stuart Pearce could not bring in a replacement.

"I thought it was the right decision," said the England coach of Bentley's omission last time.

"He accepted that and he paid the consequences but this is a new squad and he is in it and deserves to be in it."