Jim Magilton has revealed he made a "cheeky enquiry" to take Tottenham striker Darren Bent back to Ipswich.

Bent has struggled to make an impact at White Hart Lane since a £16.5million transfer from Charlton Athletic last summer.

He has scored six goals in 28 appearances in all competitions for Spurs and has started only nine games in the Premier League.

Dimitar Berbatov and Robbie Keane are Juande Ramos' first-choice pairing, although the January sale of Jermain Defoe to Portsmouth means Bent is the chief back-up in attack.

His situation in north London prompted Ipswich boss Magilton to ask to take Bent on loan, but he was given no encouragement by Spurs.

"Darren was having a tricky spell at Spurs and we made a cheeky enquiry," Magilton told the club's official website.

"We want to bring in players that will raise the bar and Darren would obviously do that, but he's very much in the fold at Tottenham and it's not going to happen.

"We just asked the question."

Bent came through the ranks at Portman Road and scored over 50 goals for the club before joining Charlton in 2005.

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