Steve McClaren hails Darren Bent hunger

Derby County boss Steve McClaren has paid tribute to Darren Bent for his match-winning performance in tonight's 2-0 victory Blackburn Rovers.

The Aston Villa loanee climbed off the bench on 63 minutes and scored twice as the Rams moved joint top of the Championship alongside Bournemouth.

The veteran striker joined Derby on loan for the rest of the season earlier this month, and McClaren has hailed the 30-year-old's hunger for a challenge.

"Some people arrive in the box and the ball never finds them but he's a genuine finisher with the skill and composure to snap up chances," he told Sky Sports News.

"He could have gone somewhere else and had an easy time with a guaranteed starting place.

"But he chose to come here and fight for a place in a good team and he has given us the different edge that we needed."

Bent, who spent a month at Brighton & Hove Albion earlier in the season, also scored in Saturday's FA Cup win over Chesterfield.