Fulham manager Martin Jol has rubbished Alan Pardew's claim that Darren Bent joined Fulham as a "safer option".
Pardew made the claim before this weekend's match which sees Bent and Fulham visit St James' Park after the striker turned down a move to Newcastle earlier in the summer.
The Magpies boss suggested that the 29-year-old chose to join Fulham to play under less pressure at Craven Cottage than he would in the North East and that swayed his decision.
However, Jol has dismissed these claims, citing regular first-team football was the main reason Bent joined the club.
According to the London Evening Standard, Fulham manager Jol said: "I really do not know what he [Alan Pardew] means.
"I feel he probably made the right decision because he knows that he is in our plans and that means he will play a lot of games.
"He knows he is an important part of my squad - otherwise I think he would have gone to Newcastle."
Bent opened his Fulham account as he grabbed his side's only goal in last weekend's defeat to Arsenal and Jol has backed him to rebuild his career during the loan spell after being frozen out at Aston Villa.
He added: "He was eager to play and eager to start [last weekend]. He joined us late but his fitness looks good and he is ready to start."