Soccer: Bent rewarded with England call-up

LONDON, England (Reuters) -- Striker Darren Bent has been rewarded for scoring 17 goals for Charlton Athletic this season with a call-up to England's squad to face Uruguay in a World Cup warm-up match next week.

Bent is expected to make a second-half appearance in Wednesday's friendly in Liverpool as coach Sven-Goran Eriksson finalizes his four strikers for the finals in Germany.

Michael Owen, who misses out against Uruguay through injury, and Wayne Rooney are Eriksson's first choices.

Peter Crouch is already penciled in for a place on the bench.

Bent now gets his chance to deny a World Cup slot to Tottenham Hotspur's Jermain Defoe, who is also in Saturday's 23-man squad.

Gary Neville returns at right back for England after a prolonged injury absence and should play alongside Manchester United team mate Rio Ferdinand.

Ferdinand and Neville are among five United players in the squad, with the same number being provided by Tottenham and Chelsea, albeit with left-back Wayne Bridge on loan at Fulham.

Bridge will play in place of the injured Ashley Cole as Eriksson has already said he will start with his strongest team against Uruguay, chosen for the fixture because of their resemblance to future World Cup opponents Paraguay.

Ferdinand should be partnered by John Terry in central defense as Sol Campbell is out through injury.

The likely midfield will be led by captain David Beckham on the right, with Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard in the middle and Joe Cole on the left. Rooney and Crouch should start up front.