MARCUS BENT knows all about winning promotion from the Championship, and the striker insists there is plenty of time for Middlesbrough to force their way into the top two despite QPR’s draw on Tuesday having dropped them to eighth position, writes SCOTT WILSON.

Bent made his Boro debut as a second-half substitute in last weekend’s game with Plymouth, but was unable to prevent a 1-0 defeat that sent the Teessiders tumbling out of the play-off places.

The 31-year-old striker was part of the Birmingham side that secured automatic promotion to the Premier League in May, and claims that with more than six months of the season to go, there is still plenty of time for Boro to stage a repeat.

“It’s a hard league, but we (Birmingham) managed to get promoted after a long graft,” said Bent, who is likely to start when Boro travel to Crystal Palace on Saturday.

“It’s only two or three months into the season.

Okay, there have been some bad results, but we’re towards the top of the table.

“There are going to be teams in January making runs like Sheffield United did last year. There’s a lot of quality here, the gaffer’s just come in and I’m sure he’s going to add to the squad.”

Bent arrived at the Riverside within a week of Gordon Strachan’s appointment as manager, and, having partnered Leroy Lita in the second half of last weekend’s game, the experienced marksman is looking forward to striking up a partnership with the former Reading frontman.

“I see myself as a target man because I’m big, strong and good in the air,” he said. “Leroy is quick and a good finisher who has shown his qualities in the last couple of years.

“I can see we’ve got good wingers, good midfielders and a strong back four, so there are a lot of possibilities.”