Make or break at Spurs for Bent

Tottenham striker Darren Bent admits his future at White Hart Lane is likely to be decided in the next month and will depend on the role he plays in the club's late push for European football.

Bent is Spurs' top scorer this season with 16 goals but the return of Jermain Defoe and Robbie Keane has intensified competition for starting places.

"No-one likes to sit on the bench," said the 25-year-old. "I'll have to see what happens and take it from there. My season has been up and down. The end of the season is coming and we'll have to see what happens after that."

Bent feels there is a World Cup place up for grabs next year with England if he is playing regular football.

"I would have liked to have played more games and scored more goals," he said.

"The manager has got decisions to make. He's got fantastic strikers and you have to bide your time.

"If you don't play for your club regularly, you won't play for England. As long as I can keep working hard and scoring goals, hopefully I'll be in there."

Bent has been encouraged by advice from England boss Fabio Capello, who was at White Hart Lane at the weekend to watch Bent score the winner against Newcastle.

"(Wayne) Rooney is obviously the number one, and there is always a fight for the other spot," Bent admitted. "As long as I can keep scoring goals and playing well when he's watching me, it's all I can ask for.

"Fabio is the best England manager we've had for a long time. He's told me on a personal level what he wants from me. He tells you face to face what he wants, which is what you need as a player."