CHARLTON striker Darren Bent has been left out of England's provisional World Cup squad by head coach Sven-Goran Eriksson.

The 22-year-old has scored 22 goals in his first season at The Valley, but it has not been enough to secure him his dream ticket to Germany.

Eriksson has instead chosen to include 17-year-old Theo Walcott, who has yet to play for Arsenal since his transfer window move from Southampton.

There is not even the consolation of a place on the stand-by list for Bent, although Luke Young is included.

The injured duo of Wayne Rooney and Michael Owen have been selected in the squad, but should either miss out the forwards on stand-by are Tottenham's Jermain Defoe and Crystal Palace's Andy Johnson.

Provisional squad:

Paul Robinson (Tottenham), David James (Manchester City), Robert Green (Norwich); Gary Neville (Manchester United), Rio Ferdinand (Manchester United), John Terry (Chelsea), Ashley Cole (Arsenal), Sol Campbell (Arsenal), Jamie Carragher (Liverpool), Wayne Bridge (Chelsea); David Beckham (Real Madrid), Michael Carrick (Tottenham), Frank Lampard (Chelsea), Steven Gerrard (Liverpool), Owen Hargreaves (Bayern Munich), Jermaine Jenas (Tottenham), Stewart Downing (Middlesbrough), Joe Cole (Chelsea), Aaron Lennon (Tottenham); Wayne Rooney (Manchester United), Michael Owen (Newcastle), Peter Crouch (Liverpool), Theo Walcott (Arsenal).

Stand-by:

Scott Carson (Liverpool), Luke Young (Charlton), Nigel Reo-Coker (West Ham), Jermain Defoe (Tottenham), Andy Johnson (Crystal Palace).