ALAN Pardew has put his back four on red alert as they bid to keep in-form former Sunderland man Darren Bent under wraps.

He may have failed to make an impact in the two Tyne-Wear derbies this season but, with the opener for England against Wales last month and a brace in Aston Villa’s draw at Everton last weekend, the £18million striker is in a rich vein of form.

His former boss Pardew – who managed him at Charlton – knows all about the havoc he can cause if defenders drop their guard.

The Newcastle United boss said. “I am so pleased he has the England shirt and is trying to cement that.

“He is someone who at Charlton, if he had stayed fit, would have kept us up because he missed some key games. the Newcastle United boss said.

“The one thing about Darren is he does not get involved for long periods and (you think) that all is well and he is not going to have a good day.

“Then he goes bang bang and suddenly it is 2-0.

“He is one where our defenders are going to need 100 per cent concentration because he will bend his run and he will finish.. Or if you are asleep on a cross he will get across you and score.

“He is proven at Premier League level. He will score goals, left, right, getting across people, getting to the far post and climbing – he has all the tools you need so you need concentrate for the whole game.”

United will not be short on motivation in the second city as they return to Villa Park for the first time since their bitter relegation in 2009.

Ten of the players likely to be involved on Sunday were part of the matchday squad on that day and Pardew confirmed it has been used to fire them up.

He added: The last time at Villa Park has been mentioned. The fans have expressed to me what an important game it is for them.

“There have been a few things in team meetings which have come up about that day and we are going to be highly motivated.

“At the same extreme, Villa coming to our place and losing 6-1, they will be highly motivated too so all in all it will make for a very lively game. Discipline will be an important part of the game.”