Albion can thank Aston Villa boss Paul Lambert for the coup of landing Darren Bent.

Not for allowing Bent to join them on loan so much as frustrating the former England marksman to such an extent that he was desperate to get away from Villa Park.

So desperate that Bent has dropped back into the Championship and a relegation scrap with the Seagulls after almost a decade of plundering goals in the Premier League for Villa, Charlton, Spurs, Sunderland and today’s opponents Fulham to re-ignite a career which, at the age of 30, still has a lot of mileage left in it.

Bent regards the appointment of ex-Norwich chief Lambert in succession to fellow Scot Alex McLeish in the summer of 2012 as the moment his fortunes started to nosedive.

He told The Argus: “You could say that, because under McLeish when he was in charge of Villa I got injured in the December but I’d scored about 12 goals before Christmas.

“The first 18 months there were fantastic. I was playing really well, scoring loads of goals, playing for England.

“Paul came in and probably at that moment there it has not gone as well with Paul as I would have liked.

“It all seemed to change. I was captain and that was taken away.

“I’ve not played half as many games as I would have liked. It has been difficult. You can’t hide away from the fact I’ve not played games.

“Going from playing week in, week out, scoring goals, to playing maybe once every three or four games is a shock to the system but I’m out of there now so hopefully this can be the start of going back up again.”

Bent turned down the chance to go abroad to join Albion for a month and get back to playing and scoring regularly. He said: “If you go back to what I do best, any striker over the years will tell you that you only get your best form from playing consistently and getting a rhythm.

“Playing two minutes and five seconds and not coming on for some games is no rhythm at all.

“I spoke to Sami (Hyypia) down here and he’s been fantastic, saying what he wants from me. Hopefully I can repay that.”

Bent’s debut against Fulham will be his first appearance in a regular game in the Championship since May 2005 at Withdean against Albion, when a draw kept the Seagulls up and he headed into the play-offs with Ipswich.

The move will be interpreted by some as him winding down his career but he insisted: “I still feel fitter than I’ve ever felt before.

“I’ve worked harder in these periods when I’ve not been playing than probably I ever have in my life.

“I am still hungry and still have a burning desire to do really well. That’s why I’m here.”

Whether Bent’s loan is extended remains to be seen but he is more or less resigned to a future away from Villa, with his contract up at the end of the season.

He said: “Villa is a fantastic club. I’ve always said I love playing there but if it means me having to go back there and not play games then obviously I am going to have to look at my future.

“If things go well here and I’m playing week in week out it’s not going to be nice to go back there and sit for weeks on end without playing. It’s going to be hard to take.”