Aston Villa’s Jean Makoun backs team-mate Darren Bent after his miss against Switzerland

Darren Bent & Ashley Young – Inggris (Getty Images)

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Aston Villa midfielder Jean Makoun has backed team mate Darren Bent to return to goalscoring form after missing a gilt-edged chance late on in England’s 2-2 draw on Saturday.

Bent came in for criticism after Saturday’s draw after the striker missed an open goal which would have almost certainly won the game for England.

Makoun believes that Bent will put that quickly behind him and continue the excellent form he showed towards the end of the season.

He told the club’s official website: “Darren is a quality goalscorer. He shows that every day in training and in the games he played for Villa too in the last campaign.

“It was great to see him banging in goals all the time. He has so much class in front of goal.

“He scores in training all the time and even though he’s been at Villa for a short time, he’s showed his class in games too and made himself a hero with the fans.”

Bent’s form has seen him catapulted as England’s main striker with Wayne Rooney and Makoun feels that Bent will score plenty of goals again next season.

He added: “I am expecting another great campaign from him when the new season starts. Darren will be important.

“He is always in the right place at the right time in front of goal. He’s a predator and a goal poacher. He can sniff out the goals.

“That can’t be taught, it’s a natural talent – and Darren has it.”