Aston Villa goalkeeper Shay Given has revealed that teammate Darren Bent is "frustrated" at not being handed a regular spot in the club's starting XI.

The 28-year-old has not been included in manager Paul Lambert's last two teams in the Premier League but Given has calmed talk of a rift by insisting that he would be 'worried' if Bent wasn't frustrated.

"He is frustrated a little bit at the minute," the Daily Star quotes Given as saying. "We have Christian Benteke, who is a powerful young forward from Belgium who has done very well. So there is competition for places and that is something we need.

"When players are left out it is a bigger worry for me if they are happy with being left out. Darren is frustrated to not be playing but that shows he cares and he wants to be in the team."

Bent moved to Villa Park from Sunderland in 2011.