Bentley seemed to damage his international prospects when he pulled out of the Under-21 European Championships in the summer and was left out of the senior squad for the recent friendly with Germany.

But with a series of injury problems in midfield and attack, Bentley has been tipped to be handed a recall. His fine effort in tonight's 2-0 victory at Ewood Park, a result which sealed a 3-0 aggregate victory, will have done him no harm.

He told five: "I'll keep working hard and enjoying my football. If I get a call for England, brilliant, I'll grab it with both hands.

"Hopefully I can make that step up to the England side.

"I hope to make it but there's so many good players I think we're one of the best teams in the world on paper.

"If it happens for me great, if not I'll just keep doing what I'm doing."

Rovers boss Mark Hughes, who saw Jason Roberts add a late goal to Bentley's opener, backed his player's claims.

"It was a great strike by David and that killed the game really.

"Everybody knows my feelings about David. He's a great young talent and he's worked extremely hard over the last 12 months.

"We're delighted at how he's played for Blackburn Rovers. If that means he makes the step up we'd be delighted but that's not my decision."