Darren Bent has backed fellow striker Gabby Agbonlahor to recapture his best form for Villa after his match-winning strike against West Ham.

Agbonlahor has endured a tough spell and only found the net five times during this campaign in contrast to the 16 goals he scored last season.

But Bent believes the boost Agbonlahor will take from his late strike at Upton Park will see him back among the goals.

Bent said: “To be fair, since I have come to this football club Gabby’s really impressed me.

“His pace, his power. It’s hard for me to understand how he’s got so few goals this season. But as strikers that can happen.

“You always go through barren spells. But he’s a top player and I’m sure Saturday’s winning goal will give him great confidence.

“Has Gabby still got a big part to play? Yes, 100 per cent. There’s only three other strikers here. I’m sure we’re not always going to play every minute of every game.

“Gabby came on, got the goal, looked really sharp and played really well.

“We’re ninth in the table now, which is crazy considering a couple of weeks ago we were right on the fringes of the relegation zone. But we’ve obviously got a long way to go.

“There are still a lot of points to play for.But the main thing is we’re showing signs of playing our best football, we’re fighting and we’re all playing for each other.”

Bent has been satisfied with his own form since his move from Sunderland in the January transfer window for a club-record fee of £24million.

The 27-year-old forward has scored six goals in 11 appearances for Villa since arriving at the club and has further established himself at international level with England.

He said: “It has gone really well for me on a personal note. I’m playing more regularly for England and I’m scoring goals for Villa, so it’s been a good season for me.

“But the main thing now is that I concentrate on getting Villa as far up the table as possible.

“It’s been a fight at times and it’s been hard, but it’s days like West Ham where you can enjoy it, put your feet up and look forward to next week.”

Bent’s former club Sunderland have struggled for goals since he left and now find themselves below Villa in the Premier League table.

But Bent admitted that while he is focused on himself for the claret and blues he hopes the Black Cats avoid relegation.

He added: “Of course I’ve got sympathy for Sunderland. I had good times there and I never want to see them struggle.”