Aston Villa striker Darren Bent remains in contact with former manager Gerard Houllier.

Bent scored on his debut against Manchester City for Houllier's stuttering Villa side, and a further eight goals in 15 games lifted Villa to ninth despite a season of turmoil in Birmingham.

"Gerard still rings me now," says Bent. "For a manager of his calibre to identify me as the guy to come and get them out of trouble meant an awful lot. We were fourth or fifth bottom when he joined. People were looking and thinking, 'Why the hell has he gone there?' but I always believed it would turn out all right and we could be a force."