Aston Villa striker Darren Bent joined Championship promotion chasers Derby on loan on Friday.

After falling out of favour with Villa manager Paul Lambert, former Tottenham star Bent has agreed a deal which will see him play for Steve McClaren's team for the rest of the season.

Bent, capped 13 times by England, will link up with his new Derby team-mates for the first time on Monday and hopes to make his Rams debut in the top-of-the-table clash against Ipswich, another of his former clubs, at Portman Road on January 10.

"We are delighted to welcome Darren Bent to Derby County for the rest of the season," McClaren told Derby's website.

"I've worked with him in the past and he brings significant Premier League and international experience with him.

"We're braced for an exciting second half of the season and Darren certainly brings big game experience with him."

Bent, who spent last season on loan at Fulham, has endured a difficult time at Villa Park since his £24 million ($36 million) move from Sunderland four years ago and only recently returned to the Premier League side from a loan spell with Championship outfit Brighton.

He has made just eight appearances for Villa this season, with seven of them as a substitute.

Bent has scored 106 Premier League goals during spells with Ipswich, Charlton, Tottenham, Sunderland, Villa and Fulham.