Fulham striker Darren Bent refutes boss Felix Magath's claims he was unfit to play against Everton

On-loan Fulham striker Darren Bent has refuted his manager’s claims he was unfit to play against Everton on Sunday.

Cottagers boss Felix Magath, who has favoured relatively inexperienced strikers ahead of Bent during his time in charge, said the England international had suffered a knock in training earlier in the week and was therefore not suitable to play on Sunday.

But Bent, who has not featured at all for Fulham since March 8, has said he was raring to go at the weekend.

“I’d taken a knock and limped off quite early in training on Thursday but I’ve trained since and felt fine on Sunday,” Bent was quoted in The Guardian. “I was fine to play.

“I am disappointed not to feature, especially in games like the Everton match where you feel that you can definitely affect the game, when your team needs a goal. Over the years I have managed to produce a few of those.

“When the team got back to 1-1 you are thinking: ‘You can make a difference here.’ But once again it was not to be.

“I am here, up for selection and more than willing to play. That is what I do, that is what I love to do.

“At this stage of the season, you need goals, you need firepower.”

Fulham are currently five points adrift of safety in the Premier League and will look to cut the deficit when they travel to Bent’s parent club Aston Villa on Saturday – a game he will be ineligible for.