Blackburn goalkeeper Brad Friedel believes winger David Bentley deserves to be part of Fabio Capello's first England squad for the friendly international with Switzerland in ten days' time.

Capello watched Bentley - and Aston Villa winger Ashley Young - produce some of the few moments of quality in Saturday's 1-1 draw in a Barclays Premier League encounter at Villa Park.

Friedel said: "Bentley should be in the England squad next week. He is a tremendous player. He has a lot of energy both on and off the pitch and is very good for the changing room as well.

"He is a lad who likes to live his life how he wants to but it is not in a negative way. I am very biased but I would have him in the squad.

"Because England didn't qualify for Euro 2008, a lot of people want to try and jump on the bandwagon, saying that there aren't good enough players etc. That is not the case at all.

"It is just a matter of getting all those top-quality players together and to be able to play on the international scene. They have got more than enough talent in this country, not only to qualify for tournaments but to win them as well."