Darren Bent is confident that Derby County are already capable of playing Premier League football.
The Rams sit third on the Championship table, just a point behind leaders Middlesbrough, following their 2-2 draw with second-placed AFC Bournemouth on Tuesday night.
Aston Villa loanee Bent, who scored in that match to take his Derby tally to four goals in five games, feels Steve McClaren's squad has enough quality to mix it with the best in England's top flight.
"I genuinely believe that this Derby side could go into the Premier League now and hold its own," Bent told the Derby Telegraph.
"We are the high-flyers at the moment - so are Bournemouth - and we showed that.
"We showed that it's not all about the long-ball game, as some people like to call it.
"We get the ball down and play football. It was a good game to watch and good to play in."
However, former England international Bent has been around long enough to know that nothing can be taken for granted as the Rams chase a return to the top division.
"We know what this league is like and any team on any given day can beat anyone," he added.
"We need to make sure we go into matches all guns blazing and not be cocky.
"We need to stayed focused and keep picking up points."
