FABIO Capello expects Darren Bent to be one of England’s most “important players”

during the remainder of the Euro 2012 qualifying campaign, but Andy Carroll’s wait for a maiden international call-up goes on after he was omitted from the squad for next week’s match with Montenegro.

Bolton striker Kevin Davies was the surprise inclusion in a 23-man party that also features Stockton-born midfielder Adam Johnson, Arsenal youngster Jack Wilshere and the recalled Robert Green, Rio Ferdinand and John Terry.

With Jermain Defoe and Bobby Zamora both unavailable because of injury, Bent is expected to start alongside Wayne Rooney as England look to maintain their 100 per cent start in Group G next Tuesday.

The Sunderland striker failed to make the cut for this summer’s World Cup finals in South Africa, but having scored his first international goal in last month’s 3-1 win in Switzerland, is set to be a key performer in England’s remaining six qualifiers.

“Bent is back,” said Capello.

“In front of goal, he is really dangerous. He played 20 minutes against Switzerland and scored an important goal.

Now he is training really well.

He is probably one of the important players for the future.”

Bent will win his eighth senior cap in seven days time, but Carroll is still no nearer his first after he was overlooked despite England’s injury problems in attack.

The Newcastle forward, who will appear in court later this month to answer a charge of assault occasioning actual bodily harm, was left out of Stuart Pearce’s England Under-21 squad at the end of last week.

With Capello having failed to coax Emile Heskey out of international retirement, that had led to speculation suggesting he was being lined up for an elevation to the senior squad.

However, instead of promoting Carroll, Capello has opted to hand a surprise callup to 33-year-old Davies.

The veteran, who has never previously been involved with an England squad, recently admitted he had given up hope of appearing for his country.

Speaking before Bolton’s game with Manchester United, Davies said: “I was in the expanded squad a couple of times, but even when a few players pulled out and I thought I had a chance, someone else got called up.”

Capello’s decision to promote him now highlights the dearth of options available, but also underlines the pragmatic approach adopted by the Italian despite England’s failure in South Africa.

While many have urged him to look to the future, Capello’s sole priority remains qualification for the European Championships in Poland and Ukraine.

To that end, he will justify the recall of the likes of Green, Ferdinand, Terry and Aaron Lennon – all players who under-performed in the summer – by emphasising the need for a positive result against a Montenegro side that have already earned surprise victories over Wales and Bulgaria.

Capello has made something of a nod to the future with the inclusion of Wilshere, who has profited from the absence of the suspended James Milner.

Milner’s place in the starting line-up is likely to go to Adam Johnson, who confirmed his well being with a wonderfully-taken winner in Manchester City’s weekend win over Newcastle.

Steven Gerrard will partner Gareth Barry in midfield, with Lennon likely to replace the injured Theo Walcott on the right-hand side.

Capello’s toughest choice will come at centre-half, as he must decide whether to restore Ferdinand, who is still England’s permanent captain despite having missed every game since the final World Cup warm-up match, to the starting line-up.

Phil Jagielka impressed in the opening two qualifiers against Bulgaria and Switzerland, but Capello has shown considerable faith in Ferdinand in the past and is expected to favour the Manchester United centre-half once again.

Squad

Ben Foster (Birmingham City), Robert Green (West Ham United), Joe Hart (Manchester City); Ashley Cole (Chelsea), Phil Jagielka (Everton), Glen Johnson (Liverpool), Rio Ferdinand (Manchester United), Joleon Lescott (Manchester City), John Terry (Chelsea), Stephen Warnock (Aston Villa); Gareth Barry (Manchester City), Joe Cole (Liverpool), Steven Gerrard (Liverpool), Tom Huddlestone (Tottenham Hotspur), Adam Johnson (Manchester City), Aaron Lennon (Tottenham Hotspur), Jack Wilshere (Arsenal), Shaun Wright-Phillips (Manchester City), Ashley Young (Aston Villa); Darren Bent (Sunderland), Peter Crouch (Tottenham Hotspur), Kevin Davies (Bolton), Wayne Rooney (Manchester United).