Hot-shot Bent vows to stay put at Ipswich

Darren Bent has no intention of leaving Ipswich in the January transfer window.

The striker, whose last-gasp strike secured a 2-1 victory against Wigan last night, has been linked with a move to the Premiership but wants to remain with Ipswich.

Bent's strike enabled Joe Royle's side to leapfrog Wigan into first place in the Championship - and the England Under-21 star is confident of playing top-flight football at Portman Road next season.

Bent said: "I'm happy at Ipswich, I know everyone here, I grew up through the Academy and it would be silly to leave the club, especially with us being top and there being a chance of me going to the Premiership anyway. I don't think there's anywhere else that I need to play."

Ipswich's victory put them two points clear at the top of the table going into Christmas, and 20-year-old Bent said: "All the players stick together, in the changing room and in training there's a close atmosphere."

Bent's winner capped a fine Ipswich comeback after Leighton Baines scored the opener for Wigan with a spectacular 30-yard strike.

Richard Naylor equalised nine minutes later with a header from a free-kick and Bent struck a minute from time with a lob over John Filan.