Bentley pulled out of an Under-21 squad for the European Under-21 Championships in the summer claiming he was tired.
McClaren admitted: “There has been a big debate about it and I kept out of the debate.
“It was an Under-21 issue, which I talked to David about beforehand.
“It was a private conversation, it’s in the past and he made his decision. We move on from it, and how we move on from it we will see in the future.”
McClaren said, when asked if Bentley was forgiven: “You will find out.
“I will have a conversation with him in the next couple of days. That will be private and, after I have had that conversation, I’ll be answering questions like that.
“Until I speak to the player I can’t say anything.
“We look at every individual player and whether he has the character to come and play for England and wear the shirt.
“Everybody is assessed like that.”
