Marcus Bent was former manager Alan Curbishley's only signing of the January 2006 transfer window and he made an immediate impression when, on his debut away at Stamford Bridge the same month, he scored a goal that would lead to the only points the champions dropped at home all season.
A long-term admirer of the athletic forward, Curbishley tried to sign Bent before he even moved to Everton so was delighted to bring him to The Valley to play alongside his namesake, and former Ipswich Town teammate, Darren Bent.
Costing £2.5m, Bent signed a three-and-a-half year contract after becoming frustrated at the lack of opportunities at Goodison Park, where he netted seven Premiership goals and enjoyed one of the best seasons of his career in 2004/05 when he played a crucial role in the Toffees' Champions League qualification.
He became the fifth ex-Tractor Boy on Charlton's books, joining ex-Portman Road colleagues Darren Ambrose, Matt Holland and Hermann Hreidarsson in SE7.
And named on the bench against Chelsea for the Premiership match on January 22nd, Bent was introduced to his Addicks career earlier than expected when Dennis Rommedahl went off injured late on in the first half.
Despite playing in an advanced right-midfield role rather than upfront, the six-foot debutante scored with a looping header to level the scores in the second half and earn the Valley men a memorable point.
But he endured a stop-start campaign throughout the rest of the season as he missed Charlton's run to the FA Cup semi-finals through being cup-tied and also struggled with a back-cum-hamstring injury.
He doubled his goals tally against Manchester City (again away from home) in February with another header from a pinpoint Radostin Kishishev cross.
But after 13 appearances his season ended when he exited the pitch against Portsmouth in mid-April and Curbishley decided to rest him until the end of the season.
Hammersmith-born, Bent represented England at U21 level. He came through the ranks at Brentford and has also played for Leicester City (on loan), Blackburn Rovers, Sheffield United - where he scored 20 goals in 48 league starts - Port Vale and Crystal Palace.
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