BLACKBURN midfielder David Bentley believes he can fill the void left by David Beckham if he gets the chance to prove himself with England next week.

Bentley was yesterday named in Steve McClaren's squad for the crucial forthcoming Euro 2008 qualifiers against Israel and Russia, barely a fortnight after the England boss had axed him for the friendly with Germany as punishment for his withdrawal from the European Under 21 Championships earlier in the summer.

Injuries to Beckham, Aaron Lennon and Kieron Dyer prompted McClaren to kiss and make up with the in-form Rovers wideman, knowing the outcome of the next two games could ultimately make or break his career as the England manager.

And Bentley has reassured McClaren he will not be overawed if he is given the opportunity to replace Beckham for the Group E double-header at Wembley.

The 23-year-old, who has already been hailed as the new Beckham' in some quarters, said: "To be compared to somebody like David Beckham is brilliant, and it is certainly not something to be frightened of.

"We are quite similar players in terms of how and where we play.

"If I get my chance next week I will grab it with both hands - it is up to me to show the character to move up to that level.

"I want to be at my physical best so that I can show my other qualities. If I go out there I will grab it with both hands and play as if it is my last game.

"That is all you can do, try 100 per cent. If it doesn't come off, it doesn't come off. But I will be trying my hardest."

Bentley is a huge Beckham fan and he says the challenge of taking his place in the England midfield is a daunting one, because the former Manchester United ace has been one of the country's leading lights over the last decade.

But the Rovers midfielder has worked hard for the chance to strut his stuff at senior international level, and now he's got the opportunity, he's determined not to blow it.

"I've admired Beckham for some time now. I believe he has been England's best player for the last six years," said Bentley.

"He has been the focal point of English football and it is hard to take somebody's position like that.

"But it is up to me to keep training hard and working on the same qualities. It is a long process, it is not something that happens overnight. I will keep doing that for the rest of my career."

Bentley s controversial decision to withdraw from the England Under 21s squad for the European Championships because of fatigue earlier this summer appeared to have damaged his long-term international prospects.

England Under 21s boss Stuart Pearce accused the midfielder of letting his country down at the time, and McClaren then exacted his own punishment by omitting him from the senior squad that faced Germany a fortnight ago.

But Bentley sticks by his original decision, whether it was right or not, and he believes England will now reap the benefits because he feels sharper for the rest.

"I made the decision about the under-21s to lengthen my England career, not shorten it.

"I tried to make the right decision and I don't know whether it was or not.

"But I will stick by it and hopefully the performances that I will continue to produce will show it was the right decision.

"After the summer, it takes a while to get back up to that level but I feel I am there.

"Fitness-wise, I am running more and the stats are up, so it is about showing the quality to go with that physical performance."