Aston Villa manager http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Darren-Bent-c10358: EPL News
Aston Villa manager, Gerard Houllier, has heaped praise on the club’s star striker, Darren Bent, and the character he has shown since joining the club.
Houllier has lauded Bent for the work-rate and attitude he shows on the ground and believes that the striker is ready to represent http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/England-c749 at the top level.
Bent joined Aston Villa in the January 2011 transfer window for a reported club record fee of 24 million pounds from Sunderland. Since his arrival, Bent has scored six goals in 11 appearances and has helped the club to return to the top half of the Premier
League table. The 27-year-old scored the equalising goal against West Ham United on Saturday and Houllier believes that the striker is making solid progress.
Talking to the reporters, Houllier said: "I think he will step up now. He is gradually now providing international performances. I always think there are three levels. There is Premier League level, international level and world class. The first aim is to
be a regular international. He's improved and http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Fabio-c13152 Capello probably saw that."
The 63-year-old compared Bent to former http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Robbie-Fowler-c31214, who worked under Houllier while the Frenchman was in charge of the Reds.
"His work-rate is phenomenal. His movement is fantastic. He's not only a good player but a good lad as well. I probably [rate him higher] than many people because he's not spectacular but he's so clinical in his finish. The one I liken him to, who was a
lethal finisher as well, is Robbie Fowler. He was clinical like that. Instinctive. Every single training, he scores.” Houllier concluded.
The Frenchman believes that Bent has lifted the club, as they were struggling in the relegation zone before he joined the Villa Park. He added that Bent knows the English game very well and is also a very good reader of the game.
The former Lyon manager is expecting a lot more from Bent in the remaining five matches of the 2010/11 season, and believes that he can guide the club to a UEFA Europa League position.
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