Express and Star: Darren Bent remains on course to be fit for the start of the season and has a big part to play in the new campaign, according to Aston Villa manager Paul Lambert. The £24m striker missed the final three months of last season after an operation on his ankle but should be ready to face West Ham in Villa's opening game.

Sky Sports: Paul Lambert claims striker Darren Bent will be an "absolutely huge" player for his Aston Villa side in the coming season. Bent missed the last three months of the 2011/12 campaign after undergoing ankle surgery, and his absence nearly proved costly as the Midlands club flirted with relegation.

Setanta Sports: Paul Lambert is hoping striker Darren Bent remains fit this coming season after describing him as 'absolutely huge' for Aston Villa. Lambert is already putting his stamp on the squad at Villa Park since replacing Alex McLeish earlier in the summer with deals already sealed to bring in midfielder Karim El Ahmadi and defender Matthew Lowton in the past week.

Setanta Sports: Aston Villa have been linked with Rennes midfielder Tongo Doumbia after he admitted to being in talks over a move to England. Villa are one of several Premier League sides thought to be interested in the Mali international, who joined Rennes from Chateauroux in 2009 and still has two years remaining on his contract with the French Ligue 1 outfit.

Sporting Life: Aston Villa boss Paul Lambert has warned the rest of the Barclays Premier League that England striker Darren Bent is fit and raring to go for the new season. The 28-year-old missed the last three months of the 2001/12 campaign after undergoing ankle surgery, and his absence proved costly as the Midlands club flirted with relegation.

ESPN: Darren Bent is ready to wreak havoc in the Premier League after recovering from the injury that kept him out for the last three months of the 2011-12 campaign, Aston Villa manager Paul Lambert has said. Lambert took over at Villa Park earlier this summer after Villa had endured a torrid campaign under Alex McLeish, finishing only narrowly clear of the relegation zone.

BBC Sport: New Aston Villa signing Matt Lowton is aiming to follow fellow ex-Sheffield United defender Phil Jagielka into the England set-up. Lowton, 23, left the Blades for Villa on Friday for an undisclosed fee.

*The extracts on this page are taken from various newspapers and media outlets. They do not necessarily reflect the views of Aston Villa.