MIDWEEK goal-hero Marcus Bent today hailed Graeme Souness's promotion-chasers as the best team he's ever played in.

And the England Under 21 international striker believes the good times could soon be back at Ewood providing Rovers continue to progress along their current learning curve.

Souness celebrated his finest hour as Rovers' manager when his side thrashed Derby County 5-2 at Pride Park on Wednesday night -- a result which earned the club Sky TV's team of the week award.

And Bent -- who led the second half onslaught with a deadly double -- reckons his Rovers team-mates could be a real force in the top-flight next season if they achieve their ultimate goal of promotion.

"When I was at Crystal Palace I played with the likes of Lombardo and Padavano and players like that. But Rovers are a different class and we should be in the Premiership," said Bent.

"We've got some great young players in Damien Duff, David Dunn and Matt Jansen who are all coming through. So, hopefully, we can start to challenge for bigger things."

Barely a year ago, Bent was stuck at Port Vale and a promising career appeared to have hit the buffers.

But a move to Sheffield United then put him back on track under the watchful eye of Neil Warnock.

And Souness's decision to bring him to Ewood has seen the 22-year-old step up another level again. Graeme Souness has given me the chance to play at a bigger club," said Bent.

"He's, basically, told me to play how I want which is to put the ball over the top and to play to my strengths. And, hopefully, I can carry on doing that and keep scoring lots of goals.

"I haven't started as many games as I'd like to. But there's positions to be filled and decisions to be made because we have a lot of forwards. "And, as long as I'm playing a part, then I'm happy."

Meanwhile, Souness is ready to give Keith Gillespie another chance to prove he could still have a future at Ewood. The transfer-listed winger has not featured in the first team since the end of September.

But Souness considered him for a place in his squad at Nottingham Forest today.

And, like Damien Johnson, who's now fit-again after a two month absence with a back injury, he looks set to get a run-out in Rovers' next reserve game.

"Keith was in the squad but he's in a similar situation to Damien Johnson in terms of the fact he's not played a lot of football recently," said Souness.