David Showell


Nurtured in one part of North London, and now based in another, David Bentley should have the world of football at his multi-talented feet by now. Yet he sits out many games, unable to break into a Spurs side that’s currently doing very well without him. Where did it all go so wrong so quickly?

David Bentley began his career at Arsenal, yet another excellent prospect emerging from the conveyor belt of talent into the outer fringes of the first-team. He made his debut at 18 in an FA Cup match against Oxford. A year later he scored his first goal, a sublime lob against Middlesbrough. From that moment on, people began to sit up and take notice.

Late that season, Bentley played his only league game for the Gunners. For the following campaign, the youngster found himself on loan at Norwich. Like many Arsenal players, he was expected to gain his initial experience away from the club. Many players trod the same path, such as Ashley Cole (Crystal Palace), Alexandre Song (Charlton) and Nicklas Bendtner (Birmingham City).

Bentley played well at Norwich, managed a couple of goals in his 26 matches, and looked forward to a glittering resumption of his Arsenal career the following season. However, he was loaned out again, this time to Blackburn and, frustrated by the lack of first-team opportunities at Arsenal, decided to make the move a permanent one.

The fledgling flourished at Ewood Park. His silky skills and quick footballing brain brought him a cult status at the club, and his performances rightly earned international recognition. Although Bentley hasn’t set the world alight in his England appearances, it’s patently obvious that the boy can play. Though a lack of pace may hold him back, his talent is there for all to see.

A year ago Bentley moved back to London, signing for Tottenham for a cool £15M, with a possible further £2M related to appearances and success. He scored a truly stunning goal against Arsenal, of all teams, early on, but, so far, he hasn’t managed another since. In truth, it hasn’t been a move made in Heaven for Bentley or for Tottenham.

The former Gunner can play in midfield or up front, but at the moment is not getting regular games in either position. Not so long ago, Bentley looked likely to be the man to take David Beckham’s place in the England line-up, but that seems a distant memory now. He is at the back of a queue that’s moving slowly, with several in-form stars in front of him.

Bentley looks unlikely to be needing his passport for a trip to South Africa next summer. Up front the likes of Wayne Rooney, Emile Heskey, Jermain Defoe, Peter Crouch and Carlton Cole are all way ahead in the pecking order, and Bentley is probably less likely to go than even the likes of out-of-favour Michael Owen.

Wide on the right, Bentley looked more of a probable than a possible a year or two ago. However, he now has to contend with Aaron Lennon, Shaun Wright-Phillips, Theo Walcott and the ever-possible David Beckham. Bentley’s hopes appear to be slim at the moment.

Of course, the 25-year-old needs to get back in the Spurs line-up before even thinking about anything else, and that’s not going to be easy. Tottenham are playing some excellent football at the moment, and as always, good teams pick themselves. As the old saying suggests, Harry Redknapp is unlikely to be in any rush to fix something that isn’t broken.

In the meantime, the only thing Bentley can do is to keep working, keep plugging away, and keep nudging Redknapp on the training ground with his performances. And if and when the opportunity comes along to strut his stuff with the first team, he needs to take it with both hands, both legs and both feet. Bentley is blessed with skill, and blessed with talent, but is he blessed with patience?

For Bentley, 2009/10 looks likely to be an uphill season. Rumours of a possible move to Aston Villa in the transfer window proved to be just that. A move to Villa Park may have re-ignited his career, but it didn’t happen. When the window re-opens, the Midlands club, along with one or two others, may well come calling. If they do, it could be just what Bentley needs. His undoubted talent will come to the fore again soon, but the two big questions are: when and where?

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