LONDON (AFP) - If Fabio Capello is England's new headmaster then David Bentley shows signs of becoming the Italian's star pupil after an eye-catching display in his side's 2-1 win against Switzerland.

Capello's decision to lay down a series of strict rules and regulations ahead of his first match in charge of England brought comparisons with a teacher trying to keep his rowdy class under control.

After getting off to a winning start in Wednesday's friendly at Wembley, Capello will believe his authoritarian stance should pay dividends in the long term.

But he will take particular satisfaction from the influential efforts of Blackburn winger Bentley.

When Capello opted to leave David Beckham out of the squad, it opened the way for Bentley to deliver on the promise he has shown for the last 18 months at Ewood Park.

The former Arsenal player has a Beckham-esque ability to produce pin-point crosses and, unlike the LA Galaxy star, he can beat a man and play a killer pass as well.

Those traits were all on display against the Swiss and if Beckham was watching in California it must have made for uncomfortable viewing.

This was the first glimpse of a prodigous talent who, along with the likes of Ashley Young and Gabriel Agbonlahor, is capable of replacing England's tarnished golden generation.

It was all the more remarkable considering Bentley was making his first England start but the 23-year-old insisted he always knew his time would come.

"You wait until it's your time in football. It's not easy getting into this team when you have players playing at such a high level week in and week out," he said.

"You have to keep knocking on the door. Luckily enough I've got my opportunity. I know I have to keep improving as a player and have a good run in the team.

"It's a new start for me, it's a new manager and we are going in a new direction.

"I'm enjoying playing the football he wants. When we get the ball he wants us to pass it and that suits me down to the ground."

Bentley had no qualms about staking his claim for the place of one of English football's iconic figures.

"I admire David Beckham. I grew up watching him. He's a legend in English football," Bentley said. "I'm just at the start of my England career. I have to work hard to get to the level he's at and hopefully further.

"You are always compared to another player. The more games I play in and the bigger those games are then I will become my own man."

Bentley made an impact on his team-mates as well, with Wayne Rooney likening him to Beckham in his younger, more dynamic days.

"David Bentley did really well. He's like a young David Beckham. His vision and confidence is brilliant," Rooney said.

"You see the way Becks has played over the years. He's been a fantastic player and I'm sure he still will be.

"With Bentley, he's always looking for players in behind and his crossing was brilliant."