Bent available for Villa selection

Aston Villa manager Paul Lambert has confirmed that Darren Bent has returned to first-team training following a spell on the sidelines.

The striker has been unavailable since mid-February through illness and injury but is available for selection against Liverpool on Sunday.

“Benty is back training. He had a little flu bug there for the last few days but I think he is OK,” Lambert told Sky Sports News.

“He trained Wednesday morning, so he is back. He got a kick – one of the lads caught his foot. It was a bit tender to kick the ball but it could have been worse. He is OK now.”

With his side firmly embroiled in the battle to avoid relegation from the Premier League, Lambert added that he is hopeful that a whole season spent battling at the bottom has taught his men enough to emerge unscathed.

“We have been round and about there all season so we are handling the pressure of it and it is not new for (the players),” Lambert said.

“They know what they have to try and do. When you start winning games you pull other teams into it who will feel edgy.”