On-loan Derby County striker Darren Bent will return to Portman Road on Saturday for the first time since leaving the club in 2005,when Derby County face Ipswich Town in a massive game at the top of the Championship.

Bent has joined Derby County on loan
Bent has joined Derby County on loan

The 30-year-old, on loan from Aston Villa, came through the youth system at Ipswich and scored 56 goals in 146 appearances, before eventually leaving to join Charlton before spells at Tottenham and Sunderland, plus a loan spell at Fulham last season .

The England international has been on loan at Brighton already this season and could make his Derby debut against Ipswich as he looks to recapture his once prolific goal scoring form.

Speaking to the Derby Telegraph Bent said, "I’ve never been back since the day I left, which is quite strange. I have played them once, in the cup, and managed to score but that was at Villa Park.

"It will be nice to go back there and see some old faces but I’m a Derby player now and I’ve got a job to do for them. The main thing is that we leave there with the three points."

“It’s a massive game – a top-of-the-table clash,” Bent continued. “They’re flying and we’re flying, so it should be a fantastic match.

“It’s always a hard place to go – I know that from being there. Teams don’t like going there. But the way Derby play, there’s no reason we can’t go there and get a result.”

The Rams sit two points behind behind Ipswich, who have only lost once in their last 21 games, not losing at home since August.

Derby have faltered on the road of late, losing three of their last five away games, but did record a 4-0 win away to Birmingham in their last away outing.

A win would take the Rams above Ipswich and level on points with league leaders Bournemouth for at least few hours, due to the game being a 12:15 kick-off.