Darren Bent: The Rain Man of Strikers

Is it really so insane to suggest that England's best striker right now might well be Darren Bent?


The 24-year-old scored 13 goals in the pre-season, and we should have seen this coming (then again, playing games against the likes of Leyton Orient, you're bound to rack up goals, right?), but since August 31 (of course he didn't score in the first two EPL fixtures), he's been on fire to the tune of 11 goals in 16 games (all competitions).

I know, I know... this simply shouldn't happen. And yet, he's in the Top 3 for EPL scoring along with Nicolas Anelka and Amr Zaki, forming perhaps the unlikeliest top scorers list imaginable. What kind of odds would you have gotten on that in July?

The Spurs revival is down to Bent more than anything, although Redknapp's influence and ability to extract hard work from his well-paid midfield is also paying dividends. Right up to the transfer deadline, one had to wonder just where the goals would come from once Berbatov and Keane were sold, but so far, Darren f*cking Bent has answered the call.

Yes, he's still young, and yes, he had a good track record at Charlton, but his 2008/09 exploits to date transcend all these accomplishments. He's in the form of his life, right now. Everything he touches turns to goals, and with a friendly against Ze Germans next week, can Capello honestly turn him down?

Fabio might; he does have two other in-form strikers in Agbonlahor and Defoe (both with 6 EPL goals so far), and it's almost inevitable that the crocked ghost of Michael Owen will still get a spot in the squad somewhere.

I cannot believe I'm saying this, but Bent should get a nod, surely. Put him in with Rooney and let's see if his Midas touch continues. Of course Ledley King agrees.

So for now, in light of this early-Xmas miracle for Tottenham, sit back with a jug of wine and a bottle of Vicodin, and enjoy some Darren Bent classics.

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