Derby County striker Darren Bent is one of "a dozen" players Burton Albion have enquired about over January moves, according to Nigel Clough.

But Clough expects the former England international to have several offers to choose from in the transfer window from "better clubs higher up the league".

The Brewers are looking to bolster their attacking ranks in a bid to ensure Championship survival for a second successive campaign.

Derby County's Darren Bent slams home a penalty in the draw with Bristol City

Bent - who has not featured yet this season after sustaining a hamstring injury in pre-season - had been linked after Rams boss and former Albion manager Gary Rowett said they would look to help Burton out with "one or two players" in the market if they could.

Clough, meanwhile, has confirmed his former club at Pride Park would be their first port of call.

"We speak to Gary Rowett regularly at Derby, and we know he (Bent) has been out of the picture," said Clough.

"So he's one of a dozen players that we've enquired about.

"But I would think with his pedigree that he's got a few offers to choose from.

"Because of our position in the league, apart from geographically, he'll probably have better clubs higher up the league to go to.

"I think there are four or five players at Derby that fall into that category (of being potential moves, but that could prove difficult to do), so he's not the only one.

"We've had a chat about it, and we'll just see what happens in the next couple of weeks.

"I would think we are down the pecking order in terms of that one."

While Clough expects Bent to have several offers from other clubs should Derby be willing to let him leave on loan, the Brewers may also be interested in some of the Rams' younger players.

Mason Bennett - who has made three Championship appearances this season - spent a loan spell with Albion under Clough during their League One promotion campaign.

So could somebody like Bennett, 21, or 22-year-old midfielder Jamie Hanson be potential options for Burton?

Mason Bennett spent the second half of 2015-16 on loan at Burton Albion

"They've got some good youngsters, so it's anywhere (on the pitch)," added Clough.

"But we're looking all over the country, and even out of the country as well.

"We're not just confined to down the road.

"It's just with the good relationship we've got with Gary, if he'd got any players that he's going to let out on loan, he said he'll give us a first shout on them.

"I think they (Bennett and Hanson) fall into that category where Derby have such a strong first-team squad, and have the majority fit as well.

"The younger players might benefit from getting out and getting some experience."

Once again, though, 'patience' was the buzz word from Clough on the transfer front, with the Albion boss expecting much of their business to be done later in the window.

"Yeah, we are certainly working hard," added Clough.

"There is an outside chance of one coming in before Saturday, we are just waiting for a call on that today.

"But also, we've got four loan slots available and we've got more than four options.

"So it's also whittling it down and getting the right one, who's available, who can we afford, and that takes some time."