Aston Villa striker Darren Bent has hailed Newcastle legend Alan Shearer as "simply the best" after joining him as part of the Barclays Premier League 100-goal club.
Bent netted his 100th top-flight goal against QPR in midweek but heads to Newcastle with Villa on Sunday still 160 short of hometown hero Shearer.
Bent, who will be hoping to fill Shearer's old number nine shirt for England at this summer's European Championship, knows it would be something special if he could mirror the now-retired striker's achievements.
He can go some way to maintaining some Shearer-esque form by scoring for a fifth successive game on Sunday, and he said: "I don't think I could ever be hero-worshipped like Shearer was at Newcastle. I'm not sure anyone could.
"He was a real icon of our domestic game - and world football too. He was someone I looked up to greatly.
"He is a real legend up there because he moved to Newcastle and stayed up there for the rest of his career. He is a true Toon icon.
"If I could be half as much of a icon for Villa as he is at Newcastle, it would be amazing. It would mean I was doing something right in claret and blue!"
Bent has scored 19 goals in 38 games since joining Villa just over 12 months ago - an average of a goal every two games.
He accepts he has work to do to catch up with Shearer, though, adding: "Alan is way out in front in that 100 goals club that I've been privileged to join. He's simply the best striker to have ever come out of this country. I have nothing but admiration for him.
"He's one of the three very best strikers to have played in the Premier League along with Thierry Henry and Andy Cole. For me they are the best three."
Bent can expect a hot reception from the Newcastle fans after his spell at local rivals Sunderland, but he is keen to celebrate Monday's 28th birthday a day early.
He said: "It would be fantastic to win on Sunday ahead of my birthday on Monday. That would make it extra special. But it's always nice to get one over on Newcastle as a former Sunderland man.
"They are flying but, if we play like we did in the second half against QPR, there's no reason we can't beat them."
Bent is hoping former Newcastle winger Charles N'Zogbia will kick-start his season after netting his first Villa goal since his £9million summer move from Wigan in the 2-2 comeback draw against QPR.
He said: "It has been a hard season for Charles and he has found it quite difficult.
"But hopefully that goal will really get things going for him.
"He was doing that week in, week out, for Wigan last season and hopefully he can do it for us."
The game also marks a return north for Stephen Ireland, who endured an injury-hit loan spell with Newcastle last season.
He said: "I wasn't getting any games at Villa and I went there hoping to get some but an injury knocked me off my momentum.
"I went there with good intentions and it never happened for me. I was happy with what everyone did up there for me but it was a bit of a waste of time.
"They got me fit and it was unfortunate I couldn't repay them."
Villa will give a late fitness check to striker Gabriel Agbonlahor, who missed the QPR game with hamstring and back injuries.
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