Aston Villa goalkeeper Pepe Reina has been praised by Darren Bent, as reported by Football Insider.

What did he say?

It was a monumental blow for Dean Smith's side when Tom Heaton picked up a season-ending injury against Burnley, as he had been an integral part of the team.

In his 20 Premier League appearances, the England international kept four clean sheets, making 68 saves, six punches, 10 high claims, seven catches and seven sweeper clearances.

However, that has definitely now been eased by the acquisition of Reina on loan from AC Milan, as Bent recognised: “He’s a top goalkeeper, Pepe Reina, when Aston Villa got him I thought: ‘What a bit of business that is.'

“Well done Dean Smith going out there and getting a goalkeeper of that ilk. His distribution is beautiful, off the deck he’s a good shot-stopper – obviously he hates me because I blasted one past him via the beachball.

“He’s been a brilliant goalkeeper, a brilliant acquisition and if Aston Villa stay up, it wouldn’t surprise me if they try keep hold of him.”

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A real impact

In the four games since Reina moved to Villa Park, he has not kept any clean sheets, but the Spaniard has certainly made an impact.

So far, he has made 13 stops, a penalty save, two punches, a high claim and three sweeper clearances, but his impact goes further than statistics, as he's directly contributed to getting points on the board - which currently means they are outside of the relegation zone.

Did he really play for us?! No Villa fan has managed to name all of these obscure Villans....

There is the save that was made against Brighton & Hove Albion's Neal Maupay to help earn a point, while his double stop against Watford set up the stage for the dramatic winner in the dying moments.

He may not have had the longest period of time at Villa Park, but Reina has already shown his worth for the club.

Meanwhile, Jack Grealish has been deemed "world-class" by a complex algorithm.