AS England prepare to take on Spain tonight in a friendly at Old Trafford, I can't help thinking Steve McClaren has missed a big opportunity.

Blackburn midfielder David Bentley has been in scintillating form this season, and tonight's game with the Spaniards would have provided McClaren with the perfect opportunity to see if he could step up and reproduce it at senior international level.

Instead, Manchester City's Joey Barton got the call, which is a mistake in my view because he won't bring the same variety to the squad that Bentley would have done.

Perhaps McClaren is trying to make a wider point about his managerial credentials by naming Barton in his squad.

The outspoken City captain recently took a swipe at the likes of Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard for bringing out autobiographies on the back of England's dismal World Cup exit last summer, so maybe McClaren has picked him to show the press he's not afraid of making controversial decisions. Who knows?

If the decision is purely a football one, however, then I find it difficult to understand how Barton has got the nod ahead of Bentley.

When you look at the England squad, the one department that appears to be stronger than any other is the centre of midfield.

Aside from Gerrard and Lampard, who seem automatic choices, McClaren also has the likes of Owen Hargreaves and Michael Carrick to call on, so I can't see Barton ever getting a game in that kind of company.

And if he's not good enough for the centre, then he's not good enough full stop, because he hasn't got the versatility to play anywhere else.

Bentley, on the other hand, has proved he's adept at playing in a number of different midfield positions, which is why his selection would have given McClaren more options.

Many of his best games for Rovers have come on the right-hand side, where his ability to deliver an early cross has proved a potent weapon this season.

Equally, he can also do a decent job in the centre of the park - and has done so on many occasions in Tugay's absence.

There have even been occasions when he's popped up on the left as well.

David has always been blessed with great natural ability - when he first broke through at Arsenal he was quickly hailed as the new Dennis Bergkamp', which was slightly unfair at the time.

But he's starting to fulfil that potential in Blackburn colours, and the difference between him now and the player who arrived at the club 18 months ago is there's an end product.

As well as scoring five goals from midfield - many of them spectacular - Bentley has also created many more for his team-mates in an increasingly productive season, which is why I'm mystified he didn't get the call from McClaren.

All he can do is keep doing it for Blackburn and eventually the England manager might see sense.

As for Rovers, it's going to be interesting to see what Mark Hughes does in midfield now that David Dunn is back in the frame again.

Does he persist with Aaron Mokoena, who had a nightmare against Sheffield United at the weekend, or throw in Dunny alongside Tugay as Rovers face three huge games in the space of the next week or so?

I'd be tempted to stick with Aaron for the trip to Everton on Saturday because it's probably still a bit early to throw Dunny in from the start.

But next week's cup games with Bayer Leverkusen and the winners of the Arsenal versus Bolton replay could be tailor made for Dunny to work his magic.