Bent returning to the Blades determined to make up for lost time

MARCUS BENT has vowed to end his goal drought after returning to former club Sheffield United on loan until the end of the season.

Bent, a prolific scorer with the Blades a decade ago, scored his last goal for current club Birmingham City nearly two years ago.

He worked previously under manager Micky Adams at Leicester City and has been drafted in to help the Blades pull out of trouble in the Championship. "I can't remember the feeling you get from scoring a goal but I want to get it back and feel it again," Bent admitted yesterday.

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"That will be achieved by hard work and with the help of the coaching staff. It's been a frustrating year because I have been injured most of the time with my hamstrings but I am over that problem and I am raring to go."

Now 32, Bent has played for 14 different clubs in 13 years and been involved in multi-million pound moves to clubs including Birmingham, Charlton Athletic, Everton and Ipswich Town.

He bagged 20 goals in just 48 league games for the Blades after a 300,000 move from Port Vale in January 1999 and was subsequently sold to Blackburn Rovers in November 2000 for 3m.

Reflecting on his career, Bent, who started with Brentford and then Crystal Palace, said: "Everyone asks me the question about my transfers but I have moved for a number of price tags and scored goals at every club I have been at.

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"Arguably, I had one of the best spells of my career in Sheffield but it was a massive opportunity to move to Blackburn under Graeme Souness. It was a step up I needed to take and we won promotion, which was amazing.

"Coming back now is really exciting because it's somewhere that is close to my heart.

"When I came here first time around I was still a kid and it was the first time I had felt at home since leaving London.

"I am a lot different as a player and a person now. I have a little girl and I regard myself as a man and a father.

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"There may be more pressure on me now, as someone who has moved on and got experience, but I will face up to that."

Bent, who will be out of contract with Birmingham in the summer, admits he would 'probably bite their hands off' if the Blades offer a permanent deal.

He accepts the Blades are in a similar league situation to when he last joined them although, off the field, the club has made massive strides.

"I wouldn't come here if I didn't think we were good enough to stay up and move forward," he stressed. "It's always been a huge club and, while I have been away, they have proved they can get up to the Premiership.

"I know a number of the players and the talent is there. It's just a case of putting a few wins together now."

Bent is set to make his debut at home to Swansea City this weekend.