Forget the drop and aim for Europe!

FORMER CAT'S BOLD CLAIM

- By CLIVE YOULTON Football writer

SUNDERLAND for Europe that's the bold claim of ex-Black Cats striker Darren Bent.

Now 41, the former forward, who played for Charlton, Spurs, Aston Villa and Sunderland (2009-11), believes Regis Le Bris' side have a fighting chance of gaining European qualification after their superb start to the Premier League season.

After 10 matches, Le Bris' men find themselves fourth in the table with 18 points.

In the buildup to Monday night's 1-1 draw with Everton in which Granit Xhaka equalised just after halftime to earn a point owner Kyril Louis-Dreyfus hinted that his side's recent purple patch has left him eyeing a top-half finish this term.