The 25-year-old striker has scored in each of his first two games for the Wearside club to bring the smile back to his face after finally ending his miserable spell at Tottenham.

Bent admitted this week that he hoped a continued run of good form might bring him to the attention of international boss Fabio Capello and give him the chance to add to his four senior caps to date.

With Michael Owen currently attempting to force his way back into Capello's thoughts since his move from Newcastle to Manchester United and Jermain Defoe having impressed during the friendly draw in Holland earlier this month, Bent may have his work cut out.

However, Bruce believes his club's record signing has the ability to rub shoulders with the likes of Wayne Rooney, Peter Crouch, Emile Heskey, Owen and Defoe on the big stage.

He said: "He has had a wonderful start and he is English - and let's be fair now, there are not many English forwards now plying their trade in the Premier League.

"Where are they? There are about four or five - there are probably more than that - realistic ones, so if he keeps scoring a goal...

"And it is not just scoring a goal he has done well with, but his contribution to the team. He has been very influential.

"He works extremely hard and he is playing with a smile on his face, which is there for everybody to see, so I am obviously delighted about that."

Bent opened his Sunderland account with the winner at Bolton on the first day of the new campaign, and briefly threatened to upset Chelsea on Tuesday night before the Blues roared back to make his 18th-minute strike irrelevant.

Bruce will hope he continues in the same vein as Blackburn arrive at the Stadium of Light tomorrow for what will be his side's third league game during the first eight days of the season.

Coupled with the round of international matches which preceded the big kick-off and Monday night's Carling Cup visit to Norwich, the Black Cats boss has been less than impressed with the fixture congestion, particularly as tomorrow's opponents were not in action in midweek.

He said: "Ten months we play and we have got to play 38 games - surely to goodness we can restructure so we do not have to play three Premier League games in a week having played an international before you play three games in a week, and then play a cup-tie on a Monday night?

"That doesn't make sense, does it? It's totally ridiculous to ask a footballer who is just starting the season - and we wonder why we have got knocks and bumps and bruises and strains.

"They just haven't got time to recover. That's my gripe about it, that there are other teams, like Blackburn, who have not played in midweek.

"How can that be right?"

Bruce's concerns have been exacerbated by an injury list which presents him with a headache for tomorrow, with midfielders Lee Cattermole and Steed Malbranque struggling with back an ankle injuries respectively, and Lorik Cana and keeper Marton Fulop ready to play through the pain of hand and heel problems respectively.

Meanwhile, the Wearsiders, who today sold striker Anthony Stokes to Hibernian for an undisclosed fee, are still confident of clinching a season-long loan deal for Lyon defender John Mensah.

Bruce said: "We are very, very close. The two clubs have agreed, so we hope that before the transfer deadline, he will be through the door."