Bent could debut against City

Club record signing Darren Bent could make his debut for Aston Villa when his new club host second-placed Manchester City.

|||

London – Club record signing Darren Bent could make his debut for Aston Villa on Saturday as his new club host second-placed Manchester City.

Villa stand only a place above the relegation zone, and are level on points with third-from bottom Wigan Athletic.

The signing of Bent for 24 million pounds ($38.2 million) has been taken as an indication that Villa are seriously concerned by the threat of relegation, and feel an improvement in their goals output is key to keeping them in the Premier League.

Bent insisted he can handle the expectations. “When I first went to Spurs, and it happened there,” he said. “I was so nervous.

“It did play a massive part in my mind and it probably got me down at times. But I'm older and more wise now.

“I've played a few more seasons in the Premier League and it just comes with the territory now.”

Bent is likely come up against the transfer window's other big-money signing, Edin Dzeko, who impressed on his debut against Wolverhampton Wanderers last week.

Sunderland, the club Bent left, are away at Blackpool, looking for a win that would cement them in sixth and confirm the substance of the ambitions of Europa League qualification.

Leaders Manchester United, who have dropped just two points at home all season, host Birmingham City, with midfielder Michael Carrick expressing a growing irritation at the club at the way his side are perceived as grinding out results this season.

“You don't want to struggle through every game and have to rely on individual magic to win. We want to be playing well on a consistent basis,” he said.

“But it does boil down to finishing on top. That is what we are striving for.”

Arsenal, two points behind United in third, host another side struggling near the football of the table, Wigan.

“The team goes from strength to strength and we have shown again we are hungry,” Wenger said.

Fourth-placed Chelsea face an awkward trip to Bolton Wanderers, with forward Didier Drogba urging his side's critics to give their young players time.

“We've had a lot of injured players, and the team has changed from last year,” he told Sports Illustrated. “We lost five great players in (Michael) Ballack, (Juliano) Belletti, Deco, (Ricardo) Carvalho and Joe Cole.

“And we replaced them with young players like (Jeffrey) Bruma, (Gael) Kakuta, (Josh) McEachran and (Patrick) van Aanholt. They are good players, but they need time to adapt.”

Tottenham Hotspur are away at Newcastle United, Liverpool go to Wolverhampton Wanderers, Everton host West Ham United, Fulham meet Stoke City and West Bromwich Albion go to Blackburn Rovers. – Sapa-dpa

Source: http://www.iol.co.za/bent-could-debut-against-city-1.1014683

Science fiction Financial crisis Francesca Panetta Coronation Street Cornwall Blackpool