DISCIPLINE is the key to getting the best out of footballers, according to David Bentley.

With the trappings of fame and fortune becoming a distraction for some modern day pro-fessionals, the midfielder acknowledges it can be easy for players to take their eye off the ball.

But he insists he and his Blackburn Rovers team-mates aren't in danger of suffering those kind of pitfalls under the guidance of manager Mark Hughes.

"The craziest thing about football and celebrity is the whole PR machine that's grown up around it," he said.

"PR agencies are constantly churning out images of footballers looking glamorous on red carpets - people begin to believe that's actually how you live your life. It's a complete illusion.

"With all of that going on, you need strong leadership from your manager to keep you focused.

"My gaffer at Blackburn gives me that. He won't try to be your friend, having a laugh and a joke.

"He doesn't want to sit down for coffee," continued Bentley, who revealed England manager Fabio Capello adopts a similar approach.

"He and Mr Capello are my favourite kind of manager: disciplined.

"You give a player an inch and they'll take a mile, that's just the way young rich footballers are.

"We need managers to rein us in.

"It's a bit like when you're at school - if you have a strict teacher, you respect them; if you have a teacher that's always larking about, you lark about yourself.

"We need to be kept on a leash, otherwise we lose our focus. Anything different and the team stops winning."

And it is through such a strict regime that Bentley is convinced England will be successful.

"Under the guidance of Mr Capello, I can see things going only one way.

"With him we could win the World Cup," said the 23-year-old, who looks set to be the natural successor to David Beckham in the national side.

"If it was solely down to individual talent, we would already be the best team in the world, we just need to learn to play together and we will do well. I'd put money on it, if I gambled."

At home, Bentley keeps away from gambling by spending most of his spare time doing DIY!

In an interview with Observer Sport Monthly, he said: "At the minute I'm obsessed with DIY. I've been taking up tiles and knocking down walls, mending the potholes in my driveway.

"My mind tends to wander, and it helps keep me on the straight and narrow."