New Derby County signing Darren Bent has revealed that his time spent on loan with the Rams last season helped him to find his love for football again.

The former England international became Aston Villa's most expensive ever player after an £18m move from Sunderland in 2011, but fell down the pecking order under previous manager Paul Lambert and was loaned to Derby in January.

Bent enjoyed a prolific spell at the iPro, netting 12 times in 17 games and, following his release by Villa on Monday, agreed a two-year deal to join Paul Clement's side permanently.

Speaking to the Derby Telegraph, the former Ipswich and Charlton star expressed his delight at returning to the Rams, and admitted that he had grown frustrated at the lack of opportunity at Aston Villa.

"I'm pleased to be back," he said. "Derby County is a fantastic football club. I said that when I first came here on loan and I am looking forward to getting going.

"I really enjoyed my loan spell last season. Everyone at the club made me feel so welcome when I first arrived and once my contract was coming to an end at Aston Villa, this was the only place I could see myself coming to.

"My time on loan helped me to enjoy my football again – it made me fall back in love with football again.

"You never really fall out of love with the game because it is something you have been doing for so long but football is hard when you are not playing, like at Villa.

"You train all week and then there is nothing at the end of the week because you are not in the team.

"When I first came to Derby on loan I wasn't playing as much because Chris Martin was in and doing well but I was still getting large portions of games.

"When I got my chance to start I was able to go straight in because I'd already had minutes on the pitch.

"I'd had a difficult few years at Aston Villa and so it was perfect to come here, play games and score goals."

Not only was Bent happy to be back playing in the East Midlands, he was also pleased to be working under the club's new manager Paul Clement, who succeeded Steve McClaren as head coach last week.

"It is nice to be Paul's first signing," he admitted. "I have had a few discussions with him since he took over and I am very excited about working with him.

"His pedigree speaks for itself. Look at some of the players he has worked with and some of the clubs he has worked at.

"Derby County is in good hands and hopefully he can take us places. There are probably very few coaches out there with his CV."

Derby fans... What do you make of the signing of Darren Bent? Are you pleased to have a proven goalscorer secured on a permanent contract? Let us know what you think by commenting below!