Premier League striker set to be handed lifeline

It is always a shame to see a top quality player waste away in the club's reserves through no fault of their own. Darren Bent has found life under Paul Lambert difficult and is finding his chances of playing for England falling quicker than he can say beach ball, but Newcastle United could be ready to hand him a lifeline. The Aston Villa forward is apparently available for around £6m and Alan Pardew is rubbing his wispy goatee in an interesting way.

To be fair to Villa, Bent got his chance earlier in the season. He was involved in the first nine games of the Premier League season but injuries soon saw him lose his place. With the likes of Christian Benteke and Andreas Weimann strutting their stuff up top for the Villians the former Tottenham man was firmly affixed to the substitute bench.

He managed to score three goals in the 16 appearances he made created 14 chances for his colleagues, but that was all worth talking about.

With Newcastle getting sucked into a fight at the wrong end of the table Pardew is in need of some hard work this summer, and with another option up top it could take the stress off other head in the squad. But will they accept the former Mackem?

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