After a fantastic season for Spurs on the domestic front, the popular defender has got the chance to make it into the final 23-man squad for the finals in South Africa next month. The defender, 26, has been in the international wilderness since Steve McClaren's time as national coach, and has never won a senior cap despite being involved in squads before now. Dawson, named by Tottenham fans as their player of the year, said: "There had been a lot of talk about me being included, but in the back of your mind you're never sure whether it will happen or not. Luckily enough for me, it has this time. "I've been involved with England a number of times over the years but have unfortunately never won a cap. It's been a few years since I've been in a squad now and it's good timing to be in the World Cup one. It's a great feeling to be named in it. "Everyone knows what it would mean to me to play for England as I've said for many years when I haven't been involved or when I have been involved. I said I'd never give up on one day playing for my country and I never have. "When you're playing for a top football club, as I have been this season on a regular basis and putting in good performances, there's always that chance of playing for England. Luckily enough, I've got the call." Dawson now has the chance to impress Capello for the first time, during a training camp in Austria and two friendlies against Mexico and Japan before the squad is whittled down to the final 23. "I've never been in one of Mr Capello's squads before so I can go there and enjoy it, hopefully train well and there's two games which I hope to be involved in to get my first cap," said Dawson. "I'll just go and do what I've been doing all year, then we'll see what happens. There are some top players in the provisional squad so we'll have to wait and see." Meanwhile, Sunderland boss Steve Bruce is backing Darren Bent to make the trip to the World Cup finals after he also made it into the provisional party. Seven men will ultimately be discarded by the time the Italian finalises his selection ahead of the June 1 deadline, but Bruce is convinced his £10million summer signing can make the cut. The Black Cats boss told the club's official website, www.safc.com: "The call-up is Darren's reward for an excellent first season for us. "What Darren has done for Sunderland this season is nothing short of fantastic - you can't argue with a return of 25 goals. "He has all the attributes needed to make a big impact on the international stage. "Darren's finishing ability is exceptional, and that's a key asset when you are playing on a big stage like the World Cup. "Hopefully he can impress Mr Capello and earn a place in the full squad. We are all rooting for him." Bent arrived at the Stadium of Light in August after two disappointing seasons at Tottenham, and wasted little time in making his mark. He scored on his Barclays Premier League debut for the club in a 1-0 opening day victory at Bolton and has contributed 24 more goals since, all but one of them in the league. Only Golden Boot winner Didier Drogba and potential international team-mate Wayne Rooney bettered that tally. Bruce has repeatedly backed the player's claims for a seat on the plane to South Africa, but the man himself has been philosophical throughout. He said recently: "Every time I score a goal, I get asked the England question, but the only thing I can do is just keep doing what I am doing, keep performing well and keep playing well. "Obviously if I go, I will be delighted and if I don't get picked, I have done myself no harm by scoring the goals I have. "Of course every player wants to go to a World Cup, but at the same time, it is not up to me, really. "All I have got to do is keep knocking them in and just go from there."
