Free agent former Blues striker Darren Bent has said he is open to a return to Town, the club where he started his career.

The Blues are short on frontmen at present after injuries to ex-skipper Jon Walters, who had come back on loan from Burnley, and Ellis Harrison.

Town can only sign free agents between now and the January transfer window opening and Bent, now 34, is currently in that position having been released by Derby in May, despite speaking to a number of clubs during the summer.

Bent, who spent the second half of last season on loan in the Championship with Burton, scoring twice in 10 starts and five sub appearances, says he’d speak to his old club if they were to show interest.

“There’s been no contact, but obviously it’s something I would be open to,” He told the EADT.

“It’s a club close to my heart. That’s where it all started for me, I had a lot of good days there and a great relationship with the fans. Never mind it being one of the results I look for every week, it’s the first result I look for.”

Despite not playing this season, Bent insists he’s not as unfit as might be thought: “I trained with Burton over the summer, played some pre-season games, had a couple of charity matches and have been doing my own gym work.

“I don’t think general fitness would be an issue, it would just take a little bit of time to get that match sharpness back.”

Speaking shortly after Walters suffered the achilles injury which curtailed his loan spell, Blues manager Paul Hurst played down the chances of bringing in a free agent frontman.

“The danger is that we’re now almost into October and that’s a long time, unless the situation is different somehow, to have not played and not been fit and I would suggest it would take a good month to get someone fit,” he said.

“You could argue you’ve got a couple of months to work with them but it’s not an ideal situation, that’s for sure.

“I wouldn’t rule it out but at the same time I think it would be difficult to perhaps find that person that we think can contribute and not by just being a name but by being in good shape and in the position to really help the squad and the team.”

However, talking ahead of last week’s home game against Middlesbrough, Hurst admitted it was something which might be looked at.

“We’ll keep looking, but at the minute the priority is the game and then arrangements ready for our long trip to Swansea,” he said.

“But people are looking at things and will be taking calls etc to see if there’s anything which can help us along the way.”

Bent came through the academy at Playford Road and went on to make 106 starts and 25 sub appearances for Town between 2001 and 2005, scoring 55 goals.

In addition to Derby and his loan spell at Burton, the Cambridge-raised striker has played for Charlton, Tottenham, Aston Villa, Sunderland, Fulham (loan) and Brighton (loan) as well as winning 13 full England caps in which he scored four times.

Photo: Action Images

cranky_old_tractor added 13:10 - Oct 12 Pay per play deal could be good for all concerned
1

inghamspur added 13:53 - Oct 12 OMG. Really would be scraping the bottom of the barrel if this one came off.
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Erics_size_5s added 14:39 - Oct 12 When you consider what Glenn Murray is doing at Brighton, it proves experience is more tgan worth that extra yard of loss pace.
5

PortmanTerrorist added 15:13 - Oct 12 Interesting reaction to a Bent return. I would only be interested if he wanted to contribute to the Club as have Kieron and Titus. In other words make it more about working with the Club rather than him doing us a favour or vice versa. Want to come home Benty, then show you mean it and you would surely be welcomed.
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BlueandTruesince82 added 15:15 - Oct 12 But Murray's game has never been built on pace, apples and orranges. Love Bent but not for me now.
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mathiemagic added 15:25 - Oct 12 @PJewellisaGod Rather have Pablo :-)
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roytheboy added 15:33 - Oct 12 A definite yes from me
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Cloddyseedbed added 16:18 - Oct 12 Way past it and not looked after himself. Looked very overweight and unfit when I saw him on the telly recently. At his age he should still be performing reguarly in the championship or div 1. Injuries have caught up with him too. His pace was his main weapon, feeding off Ambroses through balls. Neither his pace or Ambrose are still around! Well Ambrose can be found in the gym around Bury St Eds I hear! No more injury prone old war horses thanks.

2

loudnproud added 08:38 - Oct 13 Benty had a chance to return under Mick McCarthy......He opted to chase a money move,like he has always done throughout his career. Im grateful for what he gave this football club previously, But taking him back is just another wage bill which is all he can offer now....
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rikksow added 10:50 - Oct 13 Usain Bolt hasn't been given a contract yet in Australia, scored two on his debut the other night and has a bit of pace about him. Better option than Bent?
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Warkys_Tash added 12:07 - Oct 13 Rikksow, sounds like a grear idea in principle, pace, height, power..but wasnt that against the Australian equivalent of the dog & duck??
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rikksow added 09:06 - Oct 14 Warkys_Tash i don't dispute it, we've all gotta start somewhere. My point was that he is probably a better option at this moment than Darren Bent.
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dirtydingusmagee added 14:54 - Oct 14 Has been a good player,a couple of years ago it would have been a no brainer if in our present state,however im not convinced it would be a good thing now .
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blueboy1981 added 18:37 - Oct 14 Anyone who thinks we are not desperate, need only wait until our next game for confirmation, then glance at the table.... !! Amazing how one win in twelve can cloud people's vision. Carry on without some additional punch up front, and you'll see how desperate we are - it'll be too late by then, being the problem facing us.
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Talbs77 added 20:23 - Oct 14 Loved him in his glory days but think those were a long time ago. I am as romantic as the next guy but Bent isn't the answer. Old Father Time has caught up with him like he eventually does with every footballer in the end.
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