EWOOD hot-shot Marcus Bent today shot down speculation linking him with a return south by pledging: 'I want to see out my contract with Rovers.'

According to reports in the national Press at the weekend, Bent was said to be heading for the Ewood exit door with Spurs and Southampton both believed to be vying for his signature.

But the London-born striker has quashed those stories in the most emphatic way possible by insisting he is perfectly happy at Rovers, despite failing to pin down a regular starting place this season.

"To be perfectly honest, I'm scratching my head as to where all this has come from and as far as I'm concerned it's just paper talk," blasted Bent.

"Obviously, I want to stay here because I only signed last year and I'm happy at the club.

"I seem to have a bit of a reputation for being at a club for only a year ever since I left Brentford.

"But, hopefully, that record won't last and I'll be here for a while and I'll see my contract out.

"Of course I want to play and I'm not happy about being left out of the side, as most people would be.

"But I'm still working hard, I'm still trying to get into the team and when I get a chance, like I did on Monday, then I've got to try and take it.

"I haven't spoken to anyone and that wasn't my quote in the paper.

"I just want to stay at Blackburn and do well here."

Bent, a £2.1 million signing from Sheffield United last November, earned a reputation for being something of a football nomad after playing for four different clubs in as many years before joining Rovers.

But, despite persistent rumours linking him with a host of clubs since the summer, he has stressed all along that he is willing to fight for his place.

The latest story suggested Rovers were ready to listen to offers of around £2.5 million with a 30 per cent sell-on built in.

And, apart from Spurs and Saturday's opponents Southampton, his former club Crystal Palace were also said to be in the running for his services.

I can reveal Rovers HAVE had several enquiries about his availability.

But, with summer-signing Ciccio Grabbi currently plagued by injury problems, Bent remains an integral part of Graeme Souness's first team squad.

And he could be in line for only his second Premiership start of the season against the Saints at the weekend.