Charlton have completed the signing of Marcus Bent from Everton for an initial fee of £2million, which could rise to £2.5million.

The striker, 27, has agreed a three-and-a-half-year deal with the south-east London club, for an initial fee of £2million, which could rise by £500,000.

Curbishley may indeed be tempted to drop him straight in at the deep end for Sunday's match at Stamford Bridge, with the former Ipswich forward able to provide a solid strike partner for England squad man Darren Bent, who played alongside his namesake during their time at Portman Road.

Marcus Bent saw opportunities become limited at Goodison Park this season, having managed just one goal - at Bolton in August.

However, the striker is in no doubt he can do a job for the Addicks this weekend, if called upon.

"I haven't played for a while, but I feel my fitness is up there with the best of them. Throw me in, get me in there," Bent urged Curbishley.

"Every game in the Premiership's hard - and Chelsea's one of the hardest. I'll give it my all, like I always do."

Curbishley maintained it had been him, rather than the player who pushed for a move, but Bent now intends to make the most of the opportunity.

"I want to be part of something which is going forwards, and playing week-in week-out," he said.

"I did not get that opportunity at Everton, so I thought it was best to move on.

"Charlton are on the up again now, and hopefully I can bring some of my qualities to the team and we can be in the top 10.

"I want to play football. I wasn't pushing for a move, it came about. Now I've got this opportunity to move on and do well for Charlton."

Bent feels the Addicks, currently in mid-table, could match his old club by mounting a push for European qualification.

"Of course I believe this squad has the potential to reach the Champions League," the striker said.

"I've watched Charlton a couple of times at the start of the season and it was exciting.

"Their confidence was buzzing and every game they went into they probably thought they were going to win it.

"When you hit a bit of bad form your confidence goes, but hopefully we're coming through it now and we can go on, push for the top ten, and see what where can get from there."

Bent certainly knows all about his namesake Darren from their time at Ipswich and is looking forward to renewing acquaintances with fellow ex-Tractor boys Hermann Hreidarsson, Matt Holland and Darren Ambrose in the current Charlton squad.

"Darren and I played at Ipswich together, when he came through the academy. You could see he had a bright future then," the 27-year-old recalled.

"He is a very good finisher, has great pace and is good in the air, so hopefully we can form a good partnership, if we are picked together."

Curbishley was more than happy to have landed his top transfer target, a player he had been tracking before his switch to Everton in the summer of 2004.

"I have never really been in a position until recently to see Darren in a 4-4-2 formation, and I see Marcus coming in to force the issue on that, to try to make the partnership," said the Charlton boss, who is already eyeing new targets.

"We have got some more money and I would like to think we would spend it, but that is only when the right players come available.

"We will have to see what happens but we are out there trying."