Almost certainly the least popular player on this list, given the money-grabbing manner in which he departed the club for a spot on the Aston Villa bench, Darren Bent unfortunately must be regarded as Sunderland's best striker of the past five years. His excellent record of 32 goals in 58 appearances means that Bent outstrips everyone from Bendtner to Fletcher, and he certainly left the club in the lurch when he departed in 2011. Best Moment: Bent's explosive start to life in a Sunderland shirt saw him grab 8 goals in his first 10 Premier League games, figures which would contribute to his eventual total of 24 goals over the course of the campaign. None were more famous (or comical) than his late winner against Liverpool, which deflected off a beach ball thrown from the away section.
