Darren Bent

Darren Bent

Bent pictured in 2008
Personal information
Full name Darren Ashley Bent[1]
Date of birth 6 February 1984 (1984-02-06) (age 28)[1]
Place of birth Tooting, England
Height 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)[2]
Playing position Striker
Club information
Current club Aston Villa
Number 9
Youth career
000?–1998 Godmanchester Rovers
1998–2001 Ipswich Town
Senior career*
Years Team Apps† (Gls)†
2001–2005 Ipswich Town 122 (48)
2005–2007 Charlton Athletic 68 (31)
2007–2009 Tottenham Hotspur 60 (18)
2009–2011 Sunderland 58 (32)
2011– Aston Villa 32 (15)
National team‡
England U15 ? (?)
2000–2001 England U16 10 (3)
England U17 ? (?)
2002 England U19 3 (3)
2003–2005 England U21 14 (9)
2006– England 13 (4)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 21:01, 2 January 2012 (UTC).

† Appearances (Goals).

‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 21:01, 2 January 2012 (UTC)

Darren Ashley Bent (born 6 February 1984) is an English footballer who plays for Aston Villa as a striker.

Bent started his career with Ipswich Town. After progressing through their youth system he made his first team debut in 2001. He made 122 appearances and scored 48 goals in the league for Ipswich, before joining Charlton Athletic for a fee of £2.5 million in 2005. He was Charlton Athletic's top goalscorer for two consecutive seasons and joined Tottenham Hotspur for a club record fee of £16.5 million in 2007. After two seasons at Tottenham he joined Sunderland. After a successful 18 months at Sunderland, he joined Aston Villa in 2011.

He has represented England at under-15, under-16, under-17, under-19, under-21 and senior levels. He made 14 appearances and scored nine goals for the under-21 side, after making his debut against Italy in 2003. He made his debut for the senior England side in 2006 against Uruguay, and has since made 11 appearances for England, scoring four goals. He scored his first goal on 7 September 2010 in a 3–1 UEFA Euro 2012 qualifying match victory against Switzerland.

Contents

Personal life

Born in Tooting, London, Bent is of Jamaican descent. His father, Mervyn Bent, was a player in the youth systems of Wimbledon and Brentford.[3][4] He moved to Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire at the age of 10 and played for the Godmanchester Rovers youth system.[4][5] As a youngster, Bent was a supporter of Arsenal, and used to have a season ticket at Highbury.[6] He was handed a formal warning by police in June 2004 after he was alleged to have shot a 12 year old with a pellet gun.[7] Bent refrains from drinking alcohol.[8]

Club career

Ipswich Town

Bent progressed through Ipswich Town's youth system, having joined the club at the age of 14 in 1998, after considering a possible career in athletics.[9] He signed a professional contract with Ipswich on 2 July 2001.[10] He made his first team debut on 1 November 2001 in a 3–1 victory against Helsingborgs IF in the UEFA Cup, and scored his first senior goal in a 4–1 League Cup defeat to Newcastle United on 27 November 2001.[11]

He scored his first FA Premier League goal on 24 April 2002 in a 1–0 win over Middlesbrough.[11] He finished the 2001–02 season with seven appearances and two goals in all competitions, and also saw his team Ipswich face relegation.[11] He scored the winning goal against Slovan Liberec in the UEFA Cup on 31 October 2002 and finished the 2002–03 season with 18 goals.[12] The 2003–04 season finished with Bent scoring 16 goals,[13] which was followed by 20 goals in the 2004–05 season, being the team's joint highest goalscorer with Shefki Kuqi.[14]

Charlton Athletic

"I am confident that Charlton will play an important role to play in the Premiership next season. This is a very strong team and I am glad that I will be a part of it."

Darren Bent[15]

He completed a transfer to Charlton Athletic on 1 June 2005, which was worth an initial fee of £2.5 million, but would have risen to £3 million if he made an agreed number of appearances for Charlton and for England.[16] On the opening day of the 2005–06 FA Premier League season, Bent scored two goals on his Charlton debut against Sunderland,[17] and was named the Premier League player of the month for August.[18] He scored in his first four games for the club, one of only six players to perform this feat in the Premier League.[19] Bent was the highest scoring Englishman in the Premier League in the 2005–06 season, with 18 goals (22 overall) which made him third highest scorer and was given Charlton's Player of the Season award.[20][21] He signed an extension to his contract at Charlton in July, which contracted him until June 2010.[22] Bent finished the 2006–07 season with 13 goals in the Premier League, again finishing as Charlton's top goalscorer, but was unable to prevent them from being relegated to the Championship after seven successive seasons of Premier League football.[23] Charlton accepted a bid from West Ham United for him in June 2007, but Bent was not interested in a move to Upton Park.[24]

Tottenham Hotspur

He completed a move to Tottenham Hotspur for a club record fee of £16.5 million on 29 June 2007, which was to be payable over three years and is inclusive of add-on payments.[25] Ipswich were entitled to 20% of Charlton's profit on Bent under a sell-on clause, which gave the club an initial £2.58 million.[26] He scored his first goal for Tottenham in a friendly match against Stevenage Borough in their first pre-season fixture of the 2007–08 season.[27] Bent scored his first competitive goal for Tottenham in a 4–0 home victory over Derby County in August 2007.[28] This was followed up by scoring in the 6–1 win over Anorthosis Famagusta in the first round of the UEFA Cup on 20 September 2007.[29] Bent scored his 100th career goal on 9 March 2008 in the added time of a 4–0 league win over West Ham United.[30] He also scored the 100th goal to be scored at White Hart Lane during the 2007–08 season on 22 March in a 2–0 win over Portsmouth.[31] Bent went on to score one more goal that season, against Newcastle United,[32] which he finished with 36 appearances and eight goals.[33]

He scored 12 goals for Tottenham during the 2008–09 pre-season.[34] His first league goal of the season came against Chelsea, which gave his side a 1–1 draw.[35] He scored a header in the second half of Tottenham's UEFA Cup first round game against Wisła Kraków, giving the team a 2–1 victory.[36] On 6 November, in a game against Dinamo Zagreb, Bent scored his first competitive hat-trick for Tottenham.[37] He followed this up with two goals in a 2–1 victory against Manchester City at the City of Manchester Stadium.[38]

A miss in front of an open goal in the final minutes during a home game against Portsmouth in January 2009, which cost Tottenham two points, prompted manager Harry Redknapp to claim "You will never get a better chance to win a match than that. My missus could have scored that one".[39] On 31 January he scored two goals in the period of two minutes against Bolton Wanderers at the Reebok Stadium after coming on as a second half substitute, in a match that eventually finished as a 3–2 defeat.[40] Following the return of Robbie Keane at Tottenham, Redknapp assured Bent of his future at the club.[41] He finished the season as Tottenham's top goalscorer with 17 goals in all competitions.[42]

Sunderland

Sunderland opened negotiations to sign Bent in July 2009.[43] The deal seemed delayed and through social networking website Twitter he accused chairman Daniel Levy of disrupting his move to Sunderland, although Bent later apologised, saying he acted out of frustration.[44] He travelled to Sunderland to sign for the club after they agreed a fee with Tottenham, and after passing a medical, Bent signed for Sunderland on 5 August for an initial fee of £10 million plus potential additional payments,[45] which later rose to £16.5 million.[46] He scored on his Sunderland debut, which was the only goal in a 1–0 victory against Bolton,[47] and was followed with Sunderland's opening goal against Chelsea in a 3–1 defeat.[48] He scored a brace in the 4–1 win over Hull City to give himself his third and fourth goals in five games.[49]

Bent scored Sunderland's only goal against Burnley at Turf Moor, making the score 1–1, before losing 3–1.[50] He scored again in a 5–2 win against Wolverhampton Wanderers,[51] although after the game Sunderland manager Steve Bruce was left angry at Bent's decision to give Sunderland's second penalty kick to teammate Kenwyne Jones, after the latter "pleaded" with Bent to take the penalty so that he could get on the score sheet.[52] Bent then scored the opening goal in a 2–2 draw with Manchester United at Old Trafford.[53] He also scored in a 1–0 victory against Liverpool on 17 October 2009 when his shot hit a beach ball thrown on to the field by a Liverpool fan and past confused goalkeeper Pepe Reina into the net.[54] Bent also scored in Sunderland's victory 1–0 over Arsenal on 21 November 2009 when his initial header rebounded back to him off Fraizer Campbell.[55] Bent scored his first hat-trick for Sunderland in a 4–0 victory over Bolton on 9 March 2010.[56] He scored two goals, one a penalty, but missed two other penalties as they were saved by Heurelho Gomes in a 3–1 victory against former club Tottenham on 3 April.[57] He finished the season with 25 goals in 40 appearances in all competitions,[58] 24 of which came in the Premier League, amounting to 50% of Sunderland's 48 goals in the league that season.[59]

Bent made his first appearance of the 2010–11 season in the opening game, a 2–2 draw with Birmingham City on 14 August and opened the scoring with a penalty in the 24th minute.[60] He scored the winning goal with stoppage time penalty as Sunderland beat Manchester City 1–0 on 29 August.[61] Bent scored the equaliser during stoppage time to earn Sunderland a 1–1 draw against Arsenal on 18 September.[62] He then scored twice in Sunderland's 2–2 draw at Liverpool.[63]

Aston Villa

On 17 January 2011, Bent submitted a transfer request, amid reports that Aston Villa had made a club record £18 million bid for him, which was rejected.[64] Villa then submitted an improved offer of £18 million, potentially rising to £24 million, which was then accepted.[65] The following day, Bent completed his move to Villa and signed a four-and-a-half-year deal.[66] He scored the winning goal on his debut against Manchester City in a 1–0 victory at Villa Park.[67] Bent scored his second Villa goal in his third appearance for his side when he completed the full 90 minutes against Manchester United at Old Trafford in a 3–1 away defeat.[68] Bent scored both of Villa's goals in their 2-1 away victory over Arsenal in the penultimate game of the season on 15 May. The first was a nicely crafted volley after he chested down a Kyle Walker chipped pass, with the second coming a few minutes later after a slip from Arsenal's Thomas Vermaelen allowed Ashley Young the time to thread a pass through the Gunners' defence and Bent to sidefoot home for 2–0.[69] He finished the season with nine goals in 16 Premier League appearances for Villa, becoming the club's joint top-scorer with Young, despite only joining in January.[70] He was also the top English goalscorer in the Premier League and the fourth highest scorer overall that season with 17 goals in total, eight of which were scored for Sunderland.[71]

In his first full season with Villa, Bent scored his first goal of the season against Blackburn Rovers.[72] In his first match against his former club Sunderland, in a 2-2 draw , Bent received touch on the ball was booed by the home support.[73] Bent suffered an injury during a match against Bolton with a win.[74] Bent caused controversy when a fan posted a picture and claimed the striker was out shopping while his teammates were losing 2-0 to Liverpool. Bent shortly apologised after this.[75] After apologising, manager Alex McLeish reacted angrily to the "conspiracy theory" over Bent's absence for Villa.[76] This led to Bent having a fall-out with McLeish but Bent denied a fall-out.[77]

International career

Bent has represented England at under-15, under-16, under-17 and under-19, under-21 and senior levels.[10][78] He made his under-16 debut against Finland on 31 July 2000, making 10 appearances and scoring three goals for the team, with his last appearance coming against Finland on 27 February 2001.[79] His debut for the under-19 team came against Germany on 14 February 2002, scoring two goals in a 3–1 victory, and his third and final appearance was against Lithuania on 21 April.[80] His first appearance for the under-21 team came against Italy on 11 February 2003, which England lost 1–0.[81][82] He made 14 appearances and scored nine goals for the under-21 team,[83][84] with his final appearance coming against France on 15 November 2005.[85] He received his first call up to the senior England team for the friendly against Denmark on 17 August,[86] but did not play in the game.[87] His England debut eventually came on 1 March 2006, when he started against Uruguay at Anfield in a pre-2006 FIFA World Cup friendly match.[88] He was not included in England's World Cup squad when it was announced in May 2006.[89]

Despite having played for the senior side, Bent was recalled to the under-21 squad for their October 2006 qualification play-offs against Germany.[90] Later that month, he was recalled to the senior squad due to an injury to Andrew Johnson shortly after the squad's announcement.[91] He was called to the England squad for a UEFA Euro 2008 qualifier against Croatia in November 2007.[92] He came on as an 80th minute substitute as England lost 3–2 and failed to qualify for the tournament.[93] He was called up to the team for a 2010 FIFA World Cup qualifier against Ukraine in March 2009 following an injury to striker Carlton Cole.[94] He made his second start for England in a 1–0 friendly defeat to Brazil on 14 November.[95]

Bent was named in England's preliminary 30-man squad for the 2010 World Cup on 11 May 2010,[96] although he was eventually omitted from the final 23-man squad on 1 June.[97] Bent scored his first international goal in England's 3–1 away win over Switzerland after appearing as a substitute for Jermain Defoe in a UEFA Euro 2012 qualifier on 7 September 2010.[98] Capello stated he had been impressed with the improvement in Bent's all-round game since his World Cup omission[99] and selected him the starting XI for England's friendly with Denmark, where he scored a tap-in from a Theo Walcott cross.

Bent retained his place for England's Euro 2012 qualifier with Wales to make his first competitive international start on 26 March 2011.[100] In scoring England's second goal he took his tally to three goals in his last three matches.[101]

Career statistics

Club

As of 2 January 2012.
Club Season League[A] FA Cup League Cup Europe Other[B] Total
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Ipswich Town 2001–02[11] 5 1 0 0 1 1 1 0 0 0 7 2
2002–03[12] 35 12 2 3 3 2 3 1 0 0 43 18
2003–04[13] 37 15 1 0 1 0 0 0 2 1 41 16
2004–05[14] 45 20 1 0 2 0 0 0 2 0 50 20
Total 122 48 4 3 7 3 4 1 4 1 141 56
Charlton Athletic 2005–06[102] 36 18 5 2 3 2 0 0 0 0 44 22
2006–07[23] 32 13 0 0 3 2 0 0 0 0 35 15
Total 68 31 5 2 6 4 0 0 0 0 79 37
Tottenham Hotspur 2007–08[33] 27 6 0 0 1 0 8 2 0 0 36 8
2008–09[42] 33 12 1 0 3 1 6 4 0 0 43 17
Total 60 18 1 0 4 1 14 6 0 0 79 25
Sunderland 2009–10[58] 38 24 2 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 40 25
2010–11[70] 20 8 1 1 2 2 0 0 0 0 23 11
Total 58 32 3 2 2 2 0 0 0 0 63 36
Aston Villa 2010–11[70] 16 9 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 16 9
2011–12[103] 16 6 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 17 6
Total 32 15 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 33 15
Career total 340 144 13 7 20 10 18 7 4 1 395 169

International

As of 15 November 2011.[104]
National team Season Apps Goals
England 2006 2 0
2007 1 0
2008 1 0
2009 1 0
2010 2 1
2011 6 3
Total 13 4

International goals

As of 26 March 2011.[104]
# Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition
1 7 September 2010 St. Jakob-Park, Basel, Switzerland  Switzerland
1–3
1–3
 UEFA Euro 2012 qualifier
2 9 February 2011 Parken Stadium, Copenhagen, Denmark  Denmark
1–1
1–2
 Friendly
3 26 March 2011 Millennium Stadium, Cardiff, Wales  Wales
0–2
0–2
 UEFA Euro 2012 qualifier
4 7 October 2011 Podgorica City Stadium, Podgorica, Montenegro  Montenegro
0–2
2–2
 UEFA Euro 2012 qualifier

Honours

Tottenham Hotspur
Individual

Footnotes

A. ^ The "League" column constitutes appearances and goals (including those as a substitute) in the Premier League and Football League.
B. ^ The "Other" column constitutes appearances and goals (including those as a substitute) in the play-offs.

References

  1. ^ a b Hugman, Barry J., ed (2009). The PFA Footballers' Who's Who 2009–10. Mainstream Publishing. p. 43. ISBN 9781845964740. 
  2. ^ "Player Profile". Premier League. http://www.premierleague.com/page/PlayerProfile/0,,12306~21746,00.html. Retrieved 23 April 2011. 
  3. ^ Roach, Stuart (24 September 2007). "Bent targets revival at Wigan". BBC Sport. http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/7009676.stm. Retrieved 11 July 2011. 
  4. ^ a b Ellis, Ralph (31 July 2009). "Premier League Transfers: Is Bent a top striker or just a Twit?". Betfair. http://betting.betfair.com/football/premiership/premier-league-transfers-is-bent-a-top-striker-or-just-a-t-310709.html. Retrieved 11 December 2009. 
  5. ^ "Bent in the frame". Cambridge News. 1 March 2006. http://www.cambridge-news.co.uk/Sport/Football/Bent-in-the-frame.htm. Retrieved 18 May 2011. 
  6. ^ Smith, Alan (23 December 2005). "Hell-Bent on securing a trip to World Cup". The Daily Telegraph (London). http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/columnists/alansmith/2370197/Hell-Bent-on-securing-a-trip-to-World-Cup.html. Retrieved 18 May 2011. 
  7. ^ "Ipswich star cautioned by police". BBC News. 12 June 2004. http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/suffolk/3801945.stm. Retrieved 18 May 2011. 
  8. ^ "MH interview: Darren Bent". Men's Health. http://www.menshealth.co.uk/living/men/mh-interview-darren-bent-544571. Retrieved 15 December 2010. 
  9. ^ Campbell, Joel (31 October 2007). "I'm bigger than racism". The Voice. http://archive.voice-online.co.uk/content.php?show=12265. Retrieved 11 July 2011. 
  10. ^ a b "Darren Bent Profile". England Football Online. http://englandfootballonline.com/TeamPlyrsBios/PlayersB/BioBentDA.html. Retrieved 3 December 2007. 
  11. ^ a b c d "Season 2001/2002:". Sportbox.tv. http://www.sportbox.tv/football/players/player.php?playerid=74025&season=2002. Retrieved 24 April 2011. 
  12. ^ a b "Season 2002/2003:". Sportbox.tv. http://www.sportbox.tv/football/players/player.php?playerid=74025&season=2003. Retrieved 24 April 2011. 
  13. ^ a b "Season 2003/2004:". Sportbox.tv. http://www.sportbox.tv/football/players/player.php?playerid=74025&season=2004. Retrieved 24 April 2011. 
  14. ^ a b "Season 2004/2005:". Sportbox.tv. http://www.sportbox.tv/football/players/player.php?playerid=74025&season=2005. Retrieved 24 April 2011. 
  15. ^ "Premiership: Darren Bent piłkarzem Charltonu" (in Polish). Pilka. 2 June 2005. http://www.pilka.pl/premiership-darren-bent-pilkarzem-charltonu. Retrieved 18 September 2010. 
  16. ^ "Bent signs for Charlton". Ipswich Town F.C. 1 June 2005. http://www.itfc.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10272~670487,00.html. Retrieved 25 January 2011. 
  17. ^ "Sunderland 1–3 Charlton". BBC Sport. 13 August 2005. http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_prem/4127036.stm. Retrieved 18 May 2011. 
  18. ^ "Bent is August's Premiership pick". BBC Sport. 9 September 2005. http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/4230004.stm. Retrieved 11 July 2011. 
  19. ^ "Coyle happy to take a loan". Bolton News. 4 March 2011. http://www.theboltonnews.co.uk/sport/wanderers/wanderersnews/8888933.Coyle_happy_to_take_a_loan/?. Retrieved 4 March 2011. 
  20. ^ "Barclays Premier League Stats: Top Goal Scorers - 2005–06". ESPN Soccernet. http://soccernet.espn.go.com/stats/scorers/_/league/eng.1/year/2005/barclays-premier-league?cc=5739. Retrieved 18 May 2011. 
  21. ^ Haines, Gary (29 June 2007). "Bent: I'll miss fantastic fans". Charlton Athletic F.C. Archived from the original on 17 May 2008. http://replay.web.archive.org/20080517161919/http://www.cafc.co.uk/newsview.ink?nid=30963&newstype=p. 
  22. ^ "Bent pens four-year Charlton deal". BBC Sport. 18 July 2006. http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/5192508.stm. Retrieved 11 July 2011. 
  23. ^ a b "Season 2006/2007:". Sportbox.tv. http://www.sportbox.tv/football/players/player.php?playerid=74025&season=2007. Retrieved 24 April 2011. 
  24. ^ "Spurs new favourites to land Bent". BBC Sport. 15 June 2007. http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/6751387.stm. Retrieved 11 July 2011. 
  25. ^ "Bent makes £16.5m Tottenham move". BBC Sport. 29 June 2007. http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/6252254.stm. Retrieved 11 July 2011. 
  26. ^ Wright, Matt (29 June 2007). "Darren departs in record deal". Charlton Athletic F.C. Archived from the original on 9 September 2007. http://replay.web.archive.org/20070909015944/http://www.cafc.co.uk/newsview.ink?nid=30959&newstype=p. 
  27. ^ "Bent scores in Spurs friendly win". BBC Sport. 7 July 2007. http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/6280830.stm. Retrieved 11 July 2011. 
  28. ^ Lyon, Sam (18 August 2007). "Tottenham 4–0 Derby". BBC Sport. http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_prem/6941864.stm. Retrieved 18 May 2011. 
  29. ^ Sinnott, John (20 September 2007). "Tottenham 6–1 A Famagusta". BBC Sport. http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/europe/6996465.stm. Retrieved 18 May 2011. 
  30. ^ Caroe, Charlie (10 March 2008). "Tottenham's Darren Bent joy at 100th goal". The Daily Telegraph (London). http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/2294089/Tottenham%27s-Darren-Bent-joy-at-100th-goal.html. Retrieved 13 August 2008. 
  31. ^ Hughes, Ian (22 March 2008). "Tottenham 2–0 Portsmouth". BBC Sport. http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_prem/7298225.stm. Retrieved 18 May 2011. 
  32. ^ Hughes, Ian (30 March 2008). "Tottenham 1–4 Newcastle". BBC Sport. http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_prem/7309369.stm. Retrieved 18 May 2011. 
  33. ^ a b "Season 2007/2008:". Sportbox.tv. http://www.sportbox.tv/football/players/player.php?playerid=74025&season=2008. Retrieved 24 April 2011. 
  34. ^ Blin, Stef (13 August 2008). "Tottenham manager Juande Ramos facing striker crisis". The Daily Telegraph (London). http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/tottenham-hotspur/2550519/Manchester-United-set-to-land-Tottenhams-Dimitar-Berbatov-with-28m-bid-Football.html. Retrieved 26 January 2011. 
  35. ^ Sanghera, Mandeep (31 August 2008). "Chelsea 1–1 Tottenham". BBC Sport. http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_prem/7578479.stm. Retrieved 31 August 2008. 
  36. ^ Dawkes, Phil (18 September 2008). "Tottenham 2–1 Wisla Krakow". BBC Sport. http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/europe/7615242.stm. Retrieved 18 May 2011. 
  37. ^ Jacob, Gary (7 November 2008). "Hat-trick from electric Darren Bent has Dynamo powerless". The Times (London). http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/tottenham/article5102341.ece. Retrieved 7 November 2008. 
  38. ^ Dawkes, Phil (9 November 2008). "Man City 1–2 Tottenham". BBC Sport. http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_prem/7709050.stm. Retrieved 18 May 2011. 
  39. ^ "Redknapp amazed by late Bent miss". BBC Sport. 19 January 2009. http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/7836585.stm. Retrieved 11 July 2011. 
  40. ^ Lyon, Sam (31 January 2009). "Bolton 3–2 Tottenham". BBC Sport. http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_prem/7856381.stm. Retrieved 18 May 2011. 
  41. ^ "Redknapp reassures Bent on future". BBC Sport. 3 February 2009. http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/7866875.stm. Retrieved 11 July 2011. 
  42. ^ a b "Season 2008/2009:". Sportbox.tv. http://www.sportbox.tv/football/players/player.php?playerid=74025&season=2009. Retrieved 24 April 2011. 
  43. ^ "Sunderland open talks with Bent". BBC Sport. 28 July 2009. http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/8172438.stm. Retrieved 11 July 2011. 
  44. ^ "Bent apologises for online rant". BBC Sport. 31 July 2009. http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/8177678.stm. Retrieved 11 July 2011. 
  45. ^ "Bent seals record Sunderland move". BBC Sport. 5 August 2009. http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/8178460.stm. Retrieved 11 July 2011. 
  46. ^ "Bent transfer – Stock Exchange Announcement". Tottenham Hotspur F.C. 5 August 2009. http://www.tottenhamhotspur.com/news/articles/benttransferstockexchangeannouncement050809.html. Retrieved 5 August 2009. 
  47. ^ Standley, James (15 August 2009). "Bolton 0 – 1 Sunderland". BBC Sport. http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_prem/8198188.stm. Retrieved 18 May 2011. 
  48. ^ McKenzie, Andrew (18 August 2009). "Sunderland 1 – 3 Chelsea". BBC Sport. http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_prem/8202329.stm. Retrieved 18 August 2009. 
  49. ^ Phillips, Owen (12 September 2009). "Sunderland 4 – 1 Hull". BBC Sport. http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_prem/8250284.stm. Retrieved 18 May 2011. 
  50. ^ Henson, Mike (19 September 2009). "Burnley 3 – 1 Sunderland". BBC Sport. http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_prem/8255397.stm. Retrieved 18 May 2011. 
  51. ^ Fletcher, Paul (27 September 2009). "Sunderland 5 – 2 Wolverhampton". BBC Sport. http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_prem/8271618.stm. Retrieved 18 May 2011. 
  52. ^ "Bruce in Bent blast over penalty". BBC Sport. 27 September 2009. http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/8277854.stm. Retrieved 11 July 2011. 
  53. ^ Hughes, Ian (3 October 2009). "Man Utd 2 – 2 Sunderland". BBC Sport. http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_prem/8282374.stm. Retrieved 18 May 2011. 
  54. ^ Sanghera, Mandeep (17 October 2009). "Sunderland 1–0 Liverpool". BBC Sport. http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_prem/8308907.stm. Retrieved 18 May 2011. 
  55. ^ Hughes, Ian (21 November 2009). "Sunderland 1 – 0 Arsenal". BBC Sport. http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_prem/8364367.stm. Retrieved 18 May 2011. 
  56. ^ Dawkes, Phil (9 March 2010). "Sunderland 4 – 0 Bolton". BBC Sport. http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_prem/8550477.stm. Retrieved 9 March 2010. 
  57. ^ Lillywhite, Jamie (3 April 2010). "Sunderland 3 – 1 Tottenham". BBC Sport. http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_prem/8596807.stm. Retrieved 18 May 2011. 
  58. ^ a b "Season 2009/2010:". Sportbox.tv. http://www.sportbox.tv/football/players/player.php?playerid=74025&season=2010. Retrieved 24 April 2011. 
  59. ^ "Summary". WhoScored.com. http://www.whoscored.com/Regions/252/Tournaments/2/Seasons/1849. Retrieved 7 September 2011. 
  60. ^ Whyatt, Chris (14 August 2010). "Sunderland 2 – 2 Birmingham". BBC Sport. http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_prem/8901729.stm. Retrieved 18 May 2011. 
  61. ^ Darling, Kevin (29 August 2010). "Sunderland 1 – 0 Man City". BBC Sport. http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_prem/8948037.stm. Retrieved 18 May 2011. 
  62. ^ Chowdhury, Saj (18 September 2010). "Sunderland 1 – 1 Arsenal". BBC Sport. http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_prem/9000607.stm. Retrieved 18 May 2011. 
  63. ^ Sanghera, Mandeep (25 September 2010). "Liverpool 2 – 2 Sunderland". BBC Sport. http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_prem/9020950.stm. Retrieved 18 May 2011. 
  64. ^ Andersom, Graeme (17 January 2011). "Sunderland confirm Darren Bent transfer request". Sunderland Echo. http://www.sunderlandecho.com/news/local/sunderland_confirm_darren_bent_transfer_request_1_2937961. Retrieved 18 January 2011. 
  65. ^ Taylor, Louise (17 January 2011). "Darren Bent heads for Aston Villa in record £24m deal". The Guardian (London). http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2011/jan/17/darren-bent-sunderland-aston-villa. Retrieved 18 January 2011. 
  66. ^ "Villa seal deal for record signing Bent". Aston Villa F.C. 18 January 2011. http://www.avfc.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10265~2269623,00.html. Retrieved 18 January 2011. 
  67. ^ "Gerard Houllier hails Darren Bent's Aston Villa debut". BBC Sport. 22 January 2011. http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/9370882.stm. Retrieved 11 July 2011. 
  68. ^ "Man Utd 3 – 1 Aston Villa". BBC Sport. 1 February 2011. http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_prem/9379942.stm. Retrieved 18 May 2011. 
  69. ^ "Arsenal 1 - 2 Aston Villa". BBC Sport. 15 May 2011. http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_prem/9484060.stm. Retrieved 14 August 2011. 
  70. ^ a b c "Season 2010/2011:". Sportbox.tv. http://www.sportbox.tv/football/players/player.php?playerid=74025&season=2011. Retrieved 24 April 2011. 
  71. ^ "Barclays Premier League Stats: Top Goal Scorers - 2010–11". ESPN Soccernet. http://soccernet.espn.go.com/stats/scorers/_/league/eng.1/year/2010/barclays-premier-league?cc=5739. Retrieved 29 July 2011. 
  72. ^ http://www.avfc.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10265~2426737,00.html
  73. ^ http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_prem/15413502.stm
  74. ^ http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_prem/16015783.stm
  75. ^ http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/aston-villa/8964524/Darren-Bent-apologises-for-shopping-trip-while-Aston-Villa-suffer-defeat-against-Liverpool.html
  76. ^ http://www.expressandstar.com/sport/aston-villa-fc/2011/12/19/darren-bents-shopping-trip-sparks-row/
  77. ^ http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11095/7387450/
  78. ^ Emmerson, Gary (25 April 2002). "Teenage boost to Ipswich dreams". The Independent (London). http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/teenage-boost-to-ipswich-dreams-658161.html. Retrieved 18 May 2011. 
  79. ^ Rollin, Glenda; Rollin, Jack, eds (2001). Rothmans Football Yearbook 2001–2002. Headline Publishing Group. p. 883. ISBN 0747272603. 
  80. ^ Rollin, Glenda; Rollin, Jack, eds (2002). Rothmans Football Yearbook 2002–2003. Headline Publishing Group. p. 902. ISBN 0755311000. 
  81. ^ Macaskill, Sandy (24 November 2009). "Darren Bent: England striker at World Cup 2010". The Daily Telegraph (London). http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/england/players/6599165/Darren-Bent-England-striker-at-World-Cup-2010.html. Retrieved 26 January 2011. 
  82. ^ "Borriello sinks England U21s". BBC Sport. 13 February 2003. http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/internationals/england/2743835.stm. Retrieved 18 May 2011. 
  83. ^ "England Under-21 Caps". The Football Association. Archived from the original on 15 February 2009. http://web.archive.org/web/20090215133227/http://www.thefa.com/England/U21s/Players/Postings/2005/01/AllTime_Caps.htm. 
  84. ^ "England Under-21 Goalscorers". The Football Association. Archived from the original on 16 December 2008. http://web.archive.org/web/20081216141744/http://www.thefa.com/England/U21s/Players/Postings/2005/02/AllTime_Goalscorers.htm. 
  85. ^ "Darren Bent". The Football Association. http://www.thefa.com/England/All-Teams/Players/B/Darren-Bent. Retrieved 3 April 2010. 
  86. ^ "Bent replaces Johnson for England". BBC Sport. 14 August 2005. http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/internationals/4140984.stm. Retrieved 18 May 2011. 
  87. ^ "Bent 'will improve with England'". BBC Sport. 18 August 2005. http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/4163722.stm. Retrieved 11 July 2011. 
  88. ^ "England 2–1 Uruguay". BBC Sport. 1 March 2006. http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/internationals/4754630.stm. Retrieved 18 May 2011. 
  89. ^ "Walcott & Lennon in England squad". BBC Sport. 8 May 2006. http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/world_cup_2006/teams/england/4983618.stm. Retrieved 18 May 2011. 
  90. ^ "Woodgate close to England recall". BBC Sport. 2 October 2006. http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/internationals/5398216.stm. Retrieved 18 May 2011. 
  91. ^ "Round-up: Johnson blow for England". The Daily Telegraph (London). 4 October 2006. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/2347090/Round-up-Johnson-blow-for-England.html. Retrieved 18 May 2011. 
  92. ^ "Bent drafted in for Croatia clash". BBC Sport. 18 November 2007. http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/internationals/7100869.stm. Retrieved 18 May 2011. 
  93. ^ Stevenson, Jonathan (21 November 2007). "England 2–3 Croatia". BBC Sport. http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/internationals/7103110.stm. Retrieved 18 May 2011. 
  94. ^ "Injury-hit England call up Bent". BBC Sport. 28 March 2009. http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/internationals/7965142.stm. Retrieved 18 May 2011. 
  95. ^ McNulty, Phil (14 November 2009). "Brazil 1–0 England". BBC Sport. http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/internationals/8353751.stm. Retrieved 18 May 2011. 
  96. ^ "Fabio Capello makes surprise England World Cup choices". BBC Sport. 11 May 2010. http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/world_cup_2010/8673706.stm. Retrieved 18 May 2011. 
  97. ^ "World Cup 2010: Theo Walcott left out of England squad". BBC Sport. 1 June 2010. http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/world_cup_2010/8713742.stm. Retrieved 18 May 2011. 
  98. ^ McNulty, Phil (7 September 2010). "Switzerland 1–3 England". BBC Sport. http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/8972401.stm. Retrieved 18 May 2011. 
  99. ^ Field, Mike (7 February 2011). "Capello Praises Improved Darren Bent". Vital Villa. http://www.astonvilla.vitalfootball.co.uk/article.asp?a=7507538. Retrieved 4 April 2011. 
  100. ^ Evans, Gregg (26 March 2011). "Aston Villa: Darren Bent set for first competitive England start". Birmingham Mail. http://www.birminghammail.net/birmingham-sport/aston-villa-fc/aston-villa-news/2011/03/26/aston-villa-darren-bent-set-for-first-competitive-england-start-97319-28405912/. Retrieved 4 April 2011. 
  101. ^ "Darren Bent wants an England run". Express & Star (Wolverhampton). 28 March 2011. http://www.expressandstar.com/sport/aston-villa-fc/2011/03/28/darren-bent-wants-an-england-run/. Retrieved 4 April 2011. 
  102. ^ "Season 2005/2006:". Sportbox.tv. http://www.sportbox.tv/football/players/player.php?playerid=74025&season=2006. Retrieved 24 April 2011. 
  103. ^ "Squad stats". Soccerbase. http://www.soccerbase.com/teams/team.sd?team_id=154&teamTabs=stats. Retrieved 2011-08-14.  The 2011–12 season accessed via dropdown menu.
  104. ^ a b "Player Info". englandstats.com. http://www.englandstats.com/players.php?pid=1142. Retrieved 15 November 2010. 

External links
Aston Villa F.C. – current squad