Hitman goals a boost - N'Zogbia

Charles N'Zogbia is backing Aston Villa team-mate Darren Bent to take his brace from the Werder Bremen friendly into the new season.

The French winger spoke out after watching Bent mark his return to full fitness from an ankle injury with the double strike in the weekend's 3-3 draw against the German Bundesliga outfit. It was Bent's first goals since he celebrated his 100th Premier League goal for Villa against QPR six months ago after the injury prematurely ended the England international's season. But, as the new campaign is set to get underway with a trip to West Ham this Saturday, N'Zogbia claims it is a real boost to see his team-mate back on the score-sheet. "That's what Darren's all about," said N'Zogbia, whose set-piece crosses set up Bent's second and Ciaran Clark's goal in Germany. "It's really good timing for him and really good for his belief and confidence to score two goals just before the start of the season. "It will give him the confidence for the next game against West Ham to have that positive mindset of scoring goals. "It will be good for him and for us." He added in the Birmingham Mail: "He makes it easy for the attacking players alongside him, because he will make that good run and you see Darren and you are confident he will score. "He's good, he's got that scoring mentality and it will definitely help us to find form."