
Tottenham defender Jonathan Woodgate has backed Darren Bent to prove his detractors wrong.
Spurs striker Bent, who joined the White Hart Lane outfit for £17million from Charlton last season, has been a target of much criticism, including from his own manager Harry Redknapp.
But the 25-year-old, who has scored 10 league goals this term, has been backed to shine by his team-mate Woodgate.
The centre back rates his partner highly and understands that him and Robbie Keane are a ‘good partnership’.
Woodgate told The Daily Star: “I said at the start of the season that if you play him he will score goals for you, and he will. It’s just a fact.
“He’s a scorer and he’s forming a good partnership with Robbie Keane. I see him in training every day, so I know how good he is.
“When he is going through one-on-one, I’d put my house on him to score. I know when he gets chances he will put them away.”
His Spurs team-mate Jermaine Jenas, who scored the opening goal at Aston Villa last Sunday, added about Bent: “He hustles and bustles.
“His all around game is here. He has come in for a lot of stick and the way he has responded shows his strength of character.”