CHARLTON striker Darren Bent has spoken for the first time of his disappointment at his exclusion from England’s World Cup squad.

Last season's leading English Premiership goalscorer was not even named on the standby list for the squad by then manager Sven-Goran Eriksson, who preferred Arsenal teenager Theo Walcott instead.

In the end, Walcott didn't see a single minute of action in Germany, despite Wayne Rooney struggling for fitness and Michael Owen having to return home with a knee ligament injury.

Tottenham's Jermain Defoe also missed out after only being named on the standby list.

Bent said: "A few of the England lads texted me to tell me I was unlucky and that I should have been there.

"A lot of the public were brilliant and told me it was a disgrace that neither Jermain Defoe nor I were in the squad."

* Keep up to date with all the news from The Valley every week in the Bexley Extra.