Bruce hails 'fantastic' Bent

Steve Bruce has revealed Darren Bent was "beating himself up" over a perceived lack of recent goals before the striker rebounded with a three-goal burst against Bolton.

Bent took his tally to 19 for the season with a treble haul in the second half, adding to Fraizer Campbell's early goal as Sunderland downed the Trotters 4-0 on Wearside.

The England international had scored once in his previous six outings, but that's been no concern for boss Bruce, who described his leading scorer as "fantastic".

"What can you say about the boy?" beamed Bruce. "I was talking to him the other day and he was beating himself up because he hadn't scored for a couple of games.

"To get a hat-trick was fantastic. After the game in the dressing room I said to him he could have had six, and he nodded his head and said he felt the same way too.

"He's had a fantastic season and he still has a big part to play over the remainder of it."