Spurs striker Darren Bent praised for 'tremendous strength and character'

18 March 2009 19:21
Bent has had an up-and-down campaign after making a positive start under Harry Redknapp following the departure of Juande Ramos. [LNB]But the England player has reaped the benefits of a run of first-team games and netted his 15th goal of the season in Sunday's win at Aston Villa. [LNB] Related ArticlesPavlyuchenko dropped[LNB]Redknapp hails King-Woodgate[LNB]Tottenham striker Roman Pavlyuchenko insists he is no reserve[LNB]Juande Ramos desperate to buy time as new-look Spurs prove slow to improve[LNB]Premier League round-up: Spurs pick up first point, Liverpool and Aston Villa ends goalless[LNB]Portsmouth sign Younes Kaboul from Tottenham for undisclosed fee[LNB]Jenas, who scored the opening goal in Tottenham's 2-1 success, said: "Apart from Darren's goal, his all-round work, hustling and bustling, winning headers, getting crosses in, chasing back, was magnificent at Aston Villa. [LNB]"He has come in for a lot of stick at some stages during the season and that just shows what tremendous strength of character he has got as well. [LNB]"I was delighted to see him score at Villa Park. He is a top striker. He is going to get you goals and that is what he is proving. [LNB]"I don't know many players that aren't confidence players. With strikers, goals breed confidence, games breed confidence. It is all part of football. [LNB]"Darren is having a little run in the team now and he is showing the manager exactly what he is about."[LNB]Jenas believes Spurs should be challenging for Europe given the quality of the players in the squad. [LNB]But the former Nottingham Forest player also warned about making 100 per cent sure of avoiding being dragged back into a relegation battle. [LNB]He said: "If you look at our team, the players we have got, we really should be up there. We have been underperforming all year but in these last few months we have shown what we are really all about. [LNB]"There was a great performance in the Carling Cup final against Manchester United and we were very unlucky not to have lifted the trophy. [LNB]"We are in a good position at the moment but it is also important we focus on the fact we are not safe. It is a very tight league. [LNB]"But you don't go to places like Villa Park and get three points unless the whole team plays well. It was a great feeling all round on Sunday. [LNB]"That win will help fill the team with confidence for what lies ahead."[LNB] 

Source: Telegraph