Paul Lambert defends loaning out Bent amid goal struggles

The Villans are the Premier League’s lowest-scoring side so far this season with just six but the former England international has been allowed to join Brighton


Aston Villa manager Paul Lambert has defended his decision to loan out Darren Bent despite his side’s struggles to find the net.

Bent, who spent last season on loan at Fulham, is Villa’s record signing, having arrived from Sunderland in January 2011 in a deal worth a reported £24 million.

However, the former England striker has fallen out of favour under Lambert and will spend a month with Championship side Brighton and Hove Albion.

Although the Midlands side have mustered just six Premier League goals this term, the manager feels that the move will benefit all parties.

He told the media: “Darren wanted to go out on loan about a month ago but, with Christian Benteke being suspended, we had to keep him here.

“It gets Darren’s career going again and that’s why I loaned him to Fulham last year, to try to get him going, but Darren wanted to go himself as well.

“Christian is coming back after Saturday and I think Gabby Agbonlahor and Andreas Weimann will find their feet again in terms of goalscoring.”

Lambert conceded that Bent does not fit in with his tactical approach.

“We just play a different way,” he explained. “Darren came to me a month ago saying he wanted the chance to play more games [and go on loan], which I agreed to do.”

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