DAVID Bentley is a younger David Beckham.

And there is no doubt in my mind that the Rovers wide-man should start for England against Israel on Saturday.

There are various players who can play on the right hand side, but Bentley can play in the midfield or out wide.

That's where he's been playing for Blackburn and that's where England are crying out for someone in the absence of Beckham.

The two are very similar, but I think Bentley brings more to the table because he can take players on, dribble, cross the ball, take set pieces and score goals.

Of course, Steve McClaren has got some options for that side of the park, with the potential to move Joe Cole there from the left, but I don't see why Bentley can't start.

He plays in that position week in, week out for his club and he's also shown he can do it for his country, with a fine performance for the England B team against Albania.

He's the natural choice for me.

We all know that he was left out of the last squad against Germany for certain reasons, but that's all blown under the bridge now.

He's done the business on the park where it counts and he fully merits his call-up to the senior squad.

I've watched him in a few games already this season and he fully deserves to be there with the big boys.

I think if he wasn't performing then that would be the perfect excuse for McClaren to leave him out again, but Bentley's gone about his work quietly and he's done all his talking on the pitch.

There is a worry from some quarters that the fans might give him a hard time, but I don't think that's going to happen.

It would've been different if he'd turned his back on his country, but it was only the U21 side, which is really just a build up for the full team.

He chose not to play and to take a well-earned rest instead and I think he's come back an even better and stronger player and person.

And, given his chance, I think he'll show it on Saturday.