Bent joined Villa from Sunderland in the January transfer window for a club-record fee and has already netted three times for his new side.
Makoun, another January signing from Lyon, told the club's official website: "I have seen a lot of great strikers in the Champions League, the likes of Raul and Samuel Eto'o, but the one who Darren reminds me of most is Ruud van Nistelrooy.
"He is always in the right place at the right time in front of goal. He's a predator and a goal poacher. He can sniff out the goals."
Villa head into the final nine games of the Barclays Premier League season only two points above the relegation zone, and Makoun believes Bent will be the key figure as they look to climb to safety.
He added: "Goals will be so, so important as we look to move up the table in the remaining weeks of the season, and so Darren will be important."
Source: PA
Source: PA