Darren Bent: 'I want to help Derby County reach the Premier League'

New Derby County striker Darren Bent has spoken of how he wants to help the Rams reach the Premier League and make amends for last season's collapse.

The 31-year-old former Derby loanee, who left Aston Villa on Monday, has penned a two-year contract at the iPro Stadium with the option of a further 12 months.

Bent is quoted by the Daily Star as saying: "It was a shame how the season ended because we had put ourselves in such a good position to go up.

"To miss out on the top six was heartbreaking but I hope I can come back and help rectify that. Once my contract was coming to an end at Aston Villa this was the only place I could see myself coming."

Derby were top of the Championship table in February, but they collapsed in the latter stages of the season to ultimately finish eighth.