Bentley seals Rovers return

10:00am Saturday 16th February 2013 in Sport Photograph of the Author By Andy Cryer, Blackburn Rovers reporter

FORMER Ewood Park favourite David Bentley has completed his Blackburn Rovers return – with boss Michael Appleton still not finished in attempts to strengthen his squad.

Spurs midfielder Bentley joined Manchester City defender Karim Rekik in putting pen to paper on loan deals yesterday, with boss Appleton still in the market for a left winger as he looks to boost Rovers’ late play-off push. Both will go straight into Rovers’ squad for this afternoon’s FA Cup fifth round tie at Arsenal, with the visitors’ 1,400 allocation sold out.

Winger Bentley enjoyed the best form of his career to date during his previousRovers spell between 2005-08, earning him England recognition.

He made more than 100 Premier League appearances for the club after signing from Arsenal, initially on loan, helping Rovers into Europe and winning the club’s player of the season award.

Bentley has struggled to regain the form he showed for Rovers since moving to Spurs in 2008 for in the region of £15million.

He has since spent spells on loan at Birmingham City, West Ham United and, earlier this season, Russian outfit FC Rostov and will be looking to kick start his flagging career at Ewood.

Appleton is understood to have signed Bentley with a view to making it a permanent move in the summer as he continues to make his mark on the squad.

The Rovers boss has also signed Rekik and DJ Campbell on loan this month and wants to add to his options of the left of midfield imminently.

Rekik’s arrival from Manchester City throws Gael Givet’s Ewood future into further doubt, as the 18-year-old is capable of playing left back and centre back.

Givet has spent much of the season as an unused substitute and Appleton has already indicated the Frenchman would be allowed to leave on loan should the opportunity arise.

Meanwhile, striker Anton Forrester has been handed a squad number and is expected to be in the travelling party for this afternoon’s FA Cup trip to Arsenal.

The 18-year-old striker signed for Rovers on a free transfer from Everton last month and scored two goals in his first game for the development side on Monday night.

Comments(18)

xsblue says...
10:25am Sat 16 Feb 13

up for`t`cup, come on you blues

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leitchy says...
10:25am Sat 16 Feb 13

Good Luck Bents!!! Good to have you back....this could be a very good deal for both parties!

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dingles_do_it_with_themselves says...
10:28am Sat 16 Feb 13

i still remember Bentley's hat-trick against United....good luck David, although as long as we put in a good shift i dont care if we loose...the play-offs are more important in my view....followed by the ultimate goal...PROMOTION....
COYB

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TwoTouchTugay says...
10:47am Sat 16 Feb 13

Im delighted Bentley is back, purely nostalgic reasons, but its could give the whole place such a lift. Yes his form has been poor, not made huge impact, and Roques return on loan was pretty forgettable, but im tired of all the negativity around ewood recently im happily optimistic that Bentley could be a stroke of genius. COYB. Lets have a Happy Appy!

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Jarrod Schulz Bearded Wonder says...
11:06am Sat 16 Feb 13

Bums on seats signing for me. Its time to back your club and get us back up to the PL.
All the doomongers and naysayers need putting in the chair for a witch dunking in the canal. Trial by water
My bet is if Dangerous Dave floats, its voodoo and he must burn and if he sinks, he's just a simple knobhead

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RoversMCMLXXV says...
11:09am Sat 16 Feb 13

great news..... welcome back Bentley

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webbo69 says...
11:20am Sat 16 Feb 13

A no brainer. Now go and get Duff on the left. Cheeky tenner on the boys today. Coyb

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rovers india says...
11:23am Sat 16 Feb 13

hope david can give some good service to rhodes and if that happens and our defence hold on then we can surely create an upset. watching the match on tv
BlUE AND WHITE IN MY HEART. BLACKBURN IN MY SOUL.

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Jack Herer says...
1:07pm Sat 16 Feb 13

Proper brilliant news!

Top player, who had arguably his best years with us.

Welcome back lad.

Onwards and upwards for Rovers!

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willhelmrover98 says...
1:17pm Sat 16 Feb 13

rovers india wrote:
hope david can give some good service to rhodes and if that happens and our defence hold on then we can surely create an upset. watching the match on tv
BlUE AND WHITE IN MY HEART. BLACKBURN IN MY SOUL.
what channel are you watching it on?

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MxMave says...
2:24pm Sat 16 Feb 13

Bentley had injury problems at Birmingham and west ham and he did alright at rostov. When he was fit though he played well imo, you don't loose the kind of touch Bentley had, if we can get his head in the right place then he'll do grand.

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1066 hastings says...
2:57pm Sat 16 Feb 13

willhelmrover98 wrote:
rovers india wrote:
hope david can give some good service to rhodes and if that happens and our defence hold on then we can surely create an upset. watching the match on tv
BlUE AND WHITE IN MY HEART. BLACKBURN IN MY SOUL.
what channel are you watching it on?
vipsportsboxeu foxsports ...NOW!!!!

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1066 hastings says...
3:03pm Sat 16 Feb 13

1066 hastings wrote:
willhelmrover98 wrote:
rovers india wrote:
hope david can give some good service to rhodes and if that happens and our defence hold on then we can surely create an upset. watching the match on tv
BlUE AND WHITE IN MY HEART. BLACKBURN IN MY SOUL.
what channel are you watching it on?
vipsportsboxeu foxsports ...NOW!!!!
66 hastings says...
2:57pm Sat 16 Feb 13

willhelmrover98 wrote:

rovers india wrote:
hope david can give some good service to rhodes and if that happens and our defence hold on then we can surely create an upset. watching the match on tv
BlUE AND WHITE IN MY HEART. BLACKBURN IN MY SOUL.

what channel are you watching it on?

vipsportsboxeu foxsports ...NOW!!!!

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Wes112 says...
3:35pm Sat 16 Feb 13

When will people learn, that the majority of players that leave us for a bigger club, generally never perform as well as they do, when they play for us. Bentley, Bellamy (scores most goals in a premier league with us), Duff, Dunn (will always be remembered for 'that' failed skill) Santa Cruz, Warnock, even Shearer to an extent (what did he win at Newcastle?)...so Jordan Rhodes take note, stick with us lad!

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French Rover says...
5:21pm Sat 16 Feb 13

Proud to be a ROVER ALWAYS....especially on days like this!

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greenscreener says...
5:31pm Sat 16 Feb 13

French Rover wrote:
Proud to be a ROVER ALWAYS....especially on days like this!
moi aussi.

Looking forward to reading some reports from the faithful who made the trip.

Well done lads.

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modan says...
5:41pm Sat 16 Feb 13

So everybody is proud Rover Supporters today ? Where are the 10,000 plastic fans these days ?
We 14,000 fans will go to Ewood Park in bad times as well as good times.
The Badwagon fans will be back when Rovers in semi and final.
Mr Appleton is a great manager turned Rovers around four wins and two draws.
Venkys will reward Appleton with a Rolls Royce if Rovers win FA cup and put Rovers back in PL.

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www india skyscrappercity.com

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dallydally says...
10:12pm Sat 16 Feb 13

Sounds like Bentley didn't track back and work hard enough when he came on today. If so Appy will be in his ear soon enough

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