Former Blues striker Darren Bent says he’s looking forward to returning to Portman Road for the first time with his new loan club Derby County on Saturday (Sky Sports 1, KO 12.15pm). Bent, 30, joined the Rams on loan from Aston Villa for the rest of the season last week and could make his debut against the Blues.

“I’ve never been back since the day I left, which is quite strange,” Bent, who came through the Town academy alongside recently returned midfielder Darren Ambrose, told the Derby Telegraph.

“I have played them once, in the cup, and managed to score but that was at Villa Park.

“It will be nice to go back there and see some old faces but I’m a Derby player now and I’ve got a job to do for them. The main thing is that we leave there with the three points.”

Derby, who have won their last three matches in all competitions, are third in the Championship two points behind the second-placed Blues, who have lost just once in 21 and are unbeaten in their last 12. Earlier in the season the sides drew 1-1 at the iPro Stadium.

“It’s a massive game — a top-of-the-table clash,” Bent added. “They’re flying and we’re flying, so it should be a fantastic match.

“It’s always a hard place to go — I know that from being there. Teams don’t like going there. But the way Derby play, there’s no reason we can’t go there and get a result.”

Meanwhile, Town have 200 tickets remaining from the 2,000 allocated to them for the Millwall game a week on Saturday. A further 900 seats have been made available to Blues supporters by the Lions and will arrive in midweek.

Ex-Town left-back Dan Harding has joined the South Londoners on loan from Nottingham Forest for the rest of the season.

Elsewhere, former Town boss Paul Jewell is set to be named Tony Pulis’s assistant manager at West Brom.

Jewell has been out of a job since leaving Portman Road by mutual consent in October 2012.

Photo: Action Images

Green_Army added 20:55 - Jan 5 will be good to be him back at Fortman Road, just as long as he doesn't score!
3

warktheline added 21:06 - Jan 5 God help WBA if Pulis fails and Jewell takes up the reigns!!! Baggies just ask Derby and Ipswich supporters for fall out!
3

Millsey added 21:09 - Jan 5 B8llocks to Bent. Says it all.....never been back since l left!!
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alfromcol added 21:13 - Jan 5 Stop bigging him up. From his comments he has never been a real supporter. Most ex-players who loved ITFC would have kept a close eye on results and at least have been "back". He is not one of them. Would be sad if he was given an ovation on his return. History is history, move on folks
-5

Eiffel78 added 21:38 - Jan 5 Some people read far too much into innocuous comments. He's talking about coming back as a player, hence saying it was strange he hadn't been back and going on to talk about playing against us at Villa Park in the cup. Nothing more to it than that.
14

DazBent added 21:40 - Jan 5 My first exposure to Ipswich was watching Darren Bent run riot but clearly has no care for the club...which is upsetting as I've spent most my childhood waiting on a return of the king. Shame he hasn't done more with his talent
-7

JWM added 22:07 - Jan 5 I hope Smithy launches the smug fooker into Row Z! I hated the way he celebrated his goal against us at Villa Park.
2

Warkystache added 22:11 - Jan 5 I bet we continually catch him offside when he finally comes on.
0

Cakeman added 22:19 - Jan 5 Bent has turned into a Journeyman and has not done much for a few seasons now. I am pleased he is not with us at this time in his career. He will no doubt be up for the game but if he does play I am sure our splendid defenders can keep him in check.
6

carsey added 22:41 - Jan 5 He was an arrogant git as a youngster and I for one hopes he has a mare against us and costs Derby loads of money for no return. If he were really any good he would have gone and done it at a top club.
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Michael11 added 23:00 - Jan 5 Quite obviously doesn't share the love for the club that Dyer, Bramble, Ambrose etc still do. There's a reason he threw a promising career away. Attitude stinks and a very selfish player. I loved him at the time but wouldn't have him back. Just hope Berra and Smith don't give him an inch, as we all know he'll take it.
0

SouperJim added 23:03 - Jan 5 Don't really understand the vitriol directed at Benty. He was sold at a time when we were in no position to hold onto our best players and brought in much needed funds. He celebrated scoring a goal against us once and so he rightly should, this recent fad of not celebrating against anyone you have ever played for is complete rubbish and disrespectful to the game in my view. So he doesn't roll out a load of meaningless platitudes every time he is asked about Ipswich. Some players feel a deeper connection to the side they broke through at, some don't. Doesn't make Bent a bad guy and doesn't change the fact that he was a terrific player who gave us many moments of joy.

24

DurhamTownFan added 23:28 - Jan 5 I'm more interested in the Jewell news. Surprising!
4

BristolTractor added 23:42 - Jan 5 Was anyone else hoping Jewell would take up Adams old job???
11

Tractorog added 00:16 - Jan 6 He "is not the Marcus Stewart that we are looking for."
2

warktheline added 06:40 - Jan 6 The Dark Lord is 20/1 for the budgie job, go on give him a go, hold on a minute......not sure if he likes the colour yellow!!!!!
9

vodkaboy added 07:27 - Jan 6 I posted (and won some money) when Bent joined Brighton that he always scores on his league debut - I hope that run does not continue on Saturday!
2

Lord_Mac added 07:34 - Jan 6 Bent did a great job for us and it was only his strike partner getting injured at the wrong time that cost us promotion. Not his fault. He stayed longer than he might have done, but had to move on and we had to move him on. We've had a lot worse wasters at the club since. I bear him no ill-will.
10

WorcesterBlue added 08:05 - Jan 6 Bent was never going to be the answer for us (due to wages and the fact I don't think he offers anything with the way we play) but the fact Derby, Bournemouth and our other rivals are strengthening is cause for concern. Think we definitely need another good striker (sammon and Bajner are not!) preferably with pace plus maybe another RB.
6

Fat_Boy_Tim added 09:30 - Jan 6 I remember a lot of critisism on here about Murphy last year and in seasons past and lets be honest, he's had a far less successful career than Bent and is older. Don't get me wrong, I'll take Murphy over Bent any day of the week but Bent is a class player, once considered to be the most natural finisher in the English game. He served Town well and I hope he gets a good reception but no goals. In Murphy and McGoldrick we have a strike pair that will always start if fit, so our options are limited in bringing in another striker. I'm not sure we can judge Bayner yet either.

5

DurhamTownFan added 10:05 - Jan 6 Strikers don't grow on trees though do they? Lost count of the number of clubs supposedly looking for a striker in this window. If you look at the stats, how many players have scored over 10 goals so far and could rightly be named a 'striker' who could be worth getting in? Not many!
2

dunkz84 added 10:27 - Jan 6 Interesting to see Gary Mackay Stevens is out of contract in the summer from Dundee! Excellent winger or attk mid! Would bring some welcomed pace and chips in with a few goals! Sure mm could persuade him given our current position and the fact players seem to have a lot if respect for him as a manager! Also Jewell as assistant! Looks like pulis could be about to be relegated for the first time in his career!!

1

rugbytomc added 10:37 - Jan 6 Just gutted it's Derby he'll be turning out for and not us - can you imagine a Bent-Murphy-McGoldrick frontline? shame we don't have the money Derby clearly do
0

Razor added 10:47 - Jan 6 Hopefully after tonight Doyle will become available at Chesterfield---that would be a smart move. He set up the winner for a certain Gary Roberts on Saturday!
0

StowTractorBoy added 11:18 - Jan 6 Darren Bent is clearly not the player he was and his best days were with us and Charlton. I have no axe to grind with him as he was a great asset for us but things move on in football. With regard to Jewell and WBA I am very pleased for the guy as whatever you think of him he worked his guts out working for Ipswich Town. In the end the worry made the guy ill and you have to respect him for handing in his notice as Marcus Evans stood by the guy at the time. He got some good players here just a pity he could not manage them. I say good luck PJ.

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