Darren Bent's inclusion in Fabio Capello's England squad raised a few eyebrows in the national press but it won't have surprised anyone in Sunderland.

After eight goals in 12 Premier League appearances and the leading English goalscorer, it was becoming increasingly difficult for Capello to ignore the in-form striker.

However, his place on the plane to South Africa is far from guaranteed. But, could Sunderland have more than just one English player on his way to the World Cup?

I argued that Bent should have been included in the last squad and the response was mixed. But, with his early-season form showing no sign of stopping, Bent booked himself a seat on the plane to Qatar where England will take on Brazil in a friendly (don't get me started on holding a friendly on the other side of the world).

Bent's inclusion has been helped by the injuries to Emile Heskey and Carlton Cole, who'll surely be anxious about their places if Bent makes an impression against the Brazilians.

It would seem that Rooney is the only striker with his World Cup place guaranteed. That leaves Bent fighting it out with Cole, Heskey, Peter Crouch and Jermaine Defoe for the remaining three or four places. Capello named four strikers for the Brazil friendly but I'd expect him to take five to the World Cup.

There's also Arsenal's Theo Walcott and Michael Owen. The former can operate as a forward but I expect him to be included in the World Cup squad as a right winger and I consider the latter's England career to be over.

If Bent can make an impression this weekend and keep up his goalscoring record throughout the season, it's highly likely that Sunderland will have a player representing England at a World Cup for the first time since Willie Watson at the 1950 World Cup (though he didn't make an appearance).

Having a Sunderland player involved in an England game against a team like Brazil, where people from all over the world will be watching, is fantastic for the club and its supporters. The profile of the club will be raised and, depending on Bent's performance, could create a whole new wave of fans from across the world.

The fact that Bent is gaining recognition for his performances in a Sunderland shirt is testament to Steve Bruce and Niall Quinn for bringing him to a club that's going places.

In the past, Sunderland wouldn't have any players close to a full England call-up or their performances would be overlooked, possibly because the club wasn't fashionable.

Kevin Phillips, despite scoring 30 Premier League goals in the 1999-2000 season was never given a fair chance for England and, despite making it in to the Euro 2000 squad, was constantly overlooked. He never played a single minute in that competition and Kevin Keegan's side were knocked out in the group stages.

I do believe that Darren Bent has the potential to fill Phillips' boots at the Stadium of Light. I only hope that he's given a fair chance to stake his claim in the England team, unlike Phillips.

But, it's not just Darren Bent who I think has a chance of making England's World Cup squad. It's no coincidence that Sunderland haven't won since Lee Cattermole ruptured his knee ligaments in the 1-0 win against Liverpool.

My initial reaction to being linked with paying £6million for a player who couldn't get a game in a poor Middlesbrough side and cost Wigan Athletic half that only a year earlier, was despondent to say the least.

However, I watched him in the summer's under-21 European Championships and thought he was incredible and an absolute necessity to our weak midfield of the previous season.

Since signing for Sunderland, Cattermole's failed to disappoint. His performance against Man Utd at Old Trafford was way beyond his 21 years and he ran the game. An equally impressive game against Liverpool followed before the untimely injury.

Cattermole could be out until the New Year but Bruce has suggested that he may be back earlier. It couldn't come soon enough as Sunderland have struggled without him and he'll make a huge difference in where we finish in the league table come May.

By the time the season ends, I wouldn't be surprised if Cattermole was involved in the full England team. I'm sure Stuart Pearce, his manager at under-21 level and Capello's assistant with the senior team, has kept Capello informed with his progress.

I've had a few people mention Michael Turner as a possible England international with an outside chance of making the World Cup. Though I've been highly impressed with the central defender, I think there's too many players ahead of him and he has no previous experience with England squads, unlike Bent and Cattermole.

I was taken aback by the amount I thought we initially paid as I hadn't seen Turner play much and Hull had conceded goals for fun last season (we hit five past them away from home). But, it now transpires that we paid £4million which I think is an absolute bargain. He's a defender who'll put his body on the line, can play a bit and is an aerial threat from corners - one goal and two forced own goals already.

With the likes of Rio Ferdinand, John Terry, Joleon Lescott, Matthew Upson, Jonathan Woodgate and Gary Cahill ahead of him, I can't see Turner coming close to an England call-up this season. But, Capello has shown that he'll look at defenders who are consistent who play for so-called unfashionable clubs, Bolton's Cahill being the biggest benefactor of this policy.

It's highly unlikely that Sunderland will have three players in the England squad for South Africa but I wouldn't be surprised if we had two.