Villa to "unleash" fit-again Bent on Wigan
Published 22:30 28/09/11 By James Nursey
Aston Villa boss Alex McLeish intends to “unleash” fit-again Darren Bent this weekend to cure his side’s scoring woes.
Villa are unbeaten in the Premier League but have managed just seven goals in six games amid five draws.
But England striker Bent is back in training after a groin injury after limping off against Newcastle earlier this month.
And the 27-year-old should return for Wigan’s visit on Saturday to partner Gabby Agbonlahor.
“Darren has been back in training this week which is good news," said McLiesh. "The injury wasn’t as bad as feared.
“It will be good to get him back into the action and unleash him.”
McLeish also expects new midfielder Jermaine Jenas to be in the Villa squad for the first time since joining on loan from Tottenham.
Striker Emile Heskey has also returned to training and defender James Collins is expected to shake off an ankle injury.
It all leaves McLeish hoping Villa can record their first victory since beating Blackburn in their opening home League game.
They were on course for a win last Sunday at QPR - despite a poor first half - until a late Richard Dunne own goal.
McLeish added: “We should be winning those games, no doubt about it, after dominating so much of the second half.
“We didn’t play well at all or string two passes together in the first half. Believe you me, I don’t tell them to go out there and not turn up in the first half.
“Even the players who produced after the break were guilty of giving the ball away and not showing for it.
“Whatever was affecting them, we released the shackles. They started to do what we asked of them to make runs forward, get support to the strikers and it was the tactic that change the game for us.
“What we asked them to do in the first half was there in the second half. And we have showed them the comparisons of the two halves.”
