The bullish 22-year-old will celebrate his new long-term deal by lining up against his former club Arsenal in an FA Cup fifth-round replay tonight - and has his sights on success on the biggest stage.

Bentley said: "I play week in, week out in the Premiership and being in the England squad is the next stage.

"If I am given the chance I will hopefully grab it, and I have the belief in myself that I can make that step up.

"I have got the confidence and belief and I have worked on myself physically to get up to Premiership level. I did not have the best start to my career at Arsenal but I am just looking to push on now.

"I am still young and I am still learning. I am coming in every day to get better and this is the place for me.

"The ability gets you to a certain level but it is ambition and desire which really gets you to the top."

Bentley insisted he could understand the mass brawl which marred Sunday's Carling Cup final between his former club and Chelsea, claiming it simply showed how much the match mattered to both sides.

He added: "Everybody blew it up but I think the players just thought it was a bit of argy-bargy.

"If you've got the desire to win football matches it boils over now and again, especially in big games."

Bentley's view is shared by Rovers boss Mark Hughes, who will approach tonight's replay brimming with confidence due to the return of 15-goal striker Benni McCarthy after he was rested for Sunday's 3-0 win over Portsmouth.

Hughes has expressed nothing but admiration for his counterpart Arsene Wenger, insisting: "To be a player at a top club you have to have a winning mentality, and Arsenal do.

"They take defeat poorly just like all top players do. That is not a criticism - it is a trait you want to see as a manager.

"It is a shame it over-shadowed such a fantastic game but I thought it just showed two teams who wanted to win.

" Arsenal expect to win and it is not always possible. But I have a great admiration for the way they go about their business."

Hughes has no new injuries for the clash with defender Chris Samba expected to recover from a knee complaint. Like McCarthy, midfielder David Dunn is also pushing for a recall.