Darren Bent has revealed his religious faith has helped him cope with missing out on England's Euro 2012 squad through injury.
The Aston Villa striker failed to recover in time from an ankle ligament injury to be chosen by new England head coach Roy Hodgson.
But Bent admits reading the Bible every day helps him to deal with such setbacks.
He said: "My grandma has got me into my religion because she used to carry me to church every Sunday.
"I read the Bible every day before I get up! You've got to have faith.
"Wherever I go I always take the Bible with me and put it beside my bed so it's there for me to read it every day.
"I've been through some hard times here at Villa and at Spurs and missing out on major tournaments with England too like this one.
"It has been difficult, but I'm a believer that good things come to those who wait.
"I believe if I am patient and I have faith then more good things will happen to me in my life and in my career."
Bent added: "I still go to church when I can, although it can be hard with Sunday games.
"But, whenever my grandma needs me to do something for the church - to go along to an event or sign something for the church - then I'm more than happy to do that.
"I don't get any stick for my faith in the dressing room and I think the lads realise it is a personal choice of mine and they respect that.
"A lot of footballers have now got tattoos with hands praying and stuff like that, which can be a bit cliched, but I have got my faith and it is important to me
