Villans chief wants more from Benteke.
Aston Villa manager Paul Lambert has told star striker Christian Benteke that he needs to ‘stand up and be counted’ as his side take on Premier League leaders Chelsea this weekend, The Sun reports.
SEE MORE:
Cristiano Ronaldo Celebrates 30th Birthday – 30 Reasons To Love & Hate The Real Madrid Star
Liverpool And Manchester United Alerted To Availability Of Top-Class Serie A Goalkeeper
Figures Show Fans Have Abandoned Man United & Flocked To Man City!
The Belgian international’s dip in form has coincided with Villa’s goalless slump, as they have now not found the back on the net in 612 minutes of Premier League football.
Benteke returned from an Achilles injury late last year, but has so far failed to recapture his goalscoring touch – notching just two strikes in 14 appearances.
Lambert attempted to provide some more firepower on transfer deadline day by putting in a £5m bid for his namesake at Liverpool, Rickie Lambert. However, since that move failed he has called on the 23-year-old to start firing on all cylinders once again.
“He’s a massive talent, but he is human like everyone else,” he said.
“He’s having a dip in form and he realises that,” said Lambert.
“It’s something we have to get him through. We can’t rest everything on his shoulders.
“If I had a Christian Benteke on his game, performing from the moment he came back from injury, I’m pretty sure I’d have a long list of clubs knocking down the door for him.
“We’re working hard to get him back to what we know he can do. You don’t have the talent he’s got and fall that far.
“Everyone has dips in form but it’s more noticeable in him, because everyone alludes to what he did in his first year.
“But he’s still a young player and we’re working hard to get him back to his best.”