Blackburn boss Mark Hughes has urged Fabio Capello to give midfielder David Bentley his first England start in Wednesday's friendly against Switzerland at Wembley.

The 23-year-old, who has two substitute appearances to his name, is set to battle it out with Chelsea's Shaun Wright-Phillips for the right-sided berth after both were preferred to David Beckham.

Bentley has been arguably Rovers' star performer this season, scoring eight goals, and Hughes told Blackburn's official website: "We're delighted for David.

"It's been the result of consistent performances over an 18-month to two-year period, we feel.

"He's consistently hit a level that's enabled him to shine in games for us and, in fairness, when he's been involved in squads with England before.

"What we hope now is that he's going to get an opportunity to start games and, if that's the case, then we have great confidence that David will be able to make that right-hand side of the field for England his own.

"He just needs the opportunity to start games and if he does, then people will see the quality that he could offer."