Albion's loan swoop for Aston Villa striker Darren Bent has been backed by one of his former managers.

Iain Dowie believes Bent can still be Premier League class if he plays more regularly.

The Argus website reported last night that Albion are poised to sign ex-England marksman Bent on loan from Villa in the next 48 hours.

The 30-year-old is expected to join the Seagulls initially for 28 days with an option to extend the deal.

Villa’s £24 million record buy will make his debut at the Amex on Saturday against Fulham, where he had a spell on loan last season.

Bent made a rare appearance under Paul Lambert as a substitute in Villa’s 1-1 draw at home to Southampton on Monday evening.

He has scored 184 goals in 464 games for Ipswich, Charlton, Spurs, Sunderland, Aston Villa and Fulham but has only had 88 minutes total playing time as a substitute for Villa in the Premier League this season.

Dowie, his manager at Charlton, told Talksport: “I don’t know what has gone on. He was a fantastic pro for me. He worked hard, he was fantastic in training, he was bright, he was bubbly, and he was also very good. He scored most of the goals that we got.

“I still think there is something left in him. You don’t want him to be forgotten about. Not so long ago, he was one of the best in the division. He can regain that but he needs to start playing.

“I don’t know why he isn’t playing any part at Villa really, that is a decision for Paul Lambert, but I think he has got to go out and play.”

Bent’s arrival before the loan window shuts on Thursday ends Albion manager Sami Hyypia’s search for more firepower to spearhead his Championship strugglers.

It also places a fresh question mark over the future of former Barnsley striker Chris O’Grady, bought by Albion for £500,000 in July and awarded a three-year contract.

Sheffield United have been leading the loan chase for out-of-favour O’Grady.

Bent’s availability for Fulham’s visit will force Hyypia to leave out one of the loan signings for the second home game running to comply with the regulation of only being permitted to name five in the matchday squad.

The likeliest candidate is the versatile Greg Halford, borrowed from Nottingham Forest as centre-half cover when Aaron Hughes was feared to be facing a lengthy lay-off.

Fit-again Hughes deputised in last Saturday’s 3-3 draw at Norwich for the suspended Lewis Dunk, who returns to face Fulham.