Villa boss Lambert will drop £24m man Bent to the bench again for Norwich clash

By Neil Moxley

PUBLISHED: 17:17 EST, 26 October 2012 | UPDATED: 17:23 EST, 26 October 2012

Paul Lambert will take the biggest gamble of his Aston Villa career so far by once more relegating Darren Bent to the substitutes’ bench for Saturday's crunch clash with Norwich City.

The Scot is set to exclude Villa’s club record £24million signing, plumping instead for Christian Benteke and Gabriel Agbonlahor as his first-choice strike pairing as he sets about improving a return of just one victory in eight Premier League fixtures.

Lambert recalled Bent to his starting line-up for the game at Fulham last week but is ready to resume his cool stance towards a forward who has been the club’s most prolific scorer in the past two seasons.

Gamble: Bent in training on Friday, ahead of a game he isn't expected to start in

The Scot first sprang a surprise when he left Bent out of the side to face West Brom in a West Midlands derby three weeks ago. Bent came off the bench to rescue a point for Villa with only his third touch of the ball but again found himself surplus for a trip to Tottenham one week later.

That game ended in defeat and although the England forward was included for Villa’s last outing at Craven Cottage, he again cut an anonymous figure.

Lambert has been at pains to quell any talk of a rift between the pair but it is clear that something is amiss. Villa’s boss has also scotched any talk that Bent’s alienation is part of a long-term plan to rid the club of its high earners.

Under pressure: Paul Lambert needs a result against Norwich

The backdrop to Saturday's fixture — with existing contractual disputes to resolve between the two clubs following Lambert’s defection to Villa Park during the summer — only adds to the intrigue.

But with Villa already looking like they are in for a relegation fight, defeat against the Canaries will leave Villa’s boss with serious questions to answer.

Lambert has tried to play down any personal significance about the game but knows it is one they must win.

The 43-year-old has had a tough time at Villa Park since his acrimonious departure from Carrow Road at the end of last season.

‘The Norwich game only has spice because I left,’ he said.  ‘But football moves on and it’s a massive game. We have to win.’