The most notable of Villa’s summer signings, Belgian forward Christian Benteke, has found some important form recently, scoring three in two games. The question is: How much do we really know about the 21-year-old who arrived from Genk for around £7 million on deadline day?

With his industrious work ethic, it would appear that he is the striking option required in the face of Darren Bent’s drought, and it looks to be shrewd business from Paul Lambert. However, Benteke is still very young and inexperienced, having not proved himself anywhere for more than a season. So can he become the goal-scorer that Aston Villa really need or has the coach taken a punt on the basis of little more than potential?

Proven Potential
At the age of 21, perhaps the fact he is scoring goals and working hard is enough, as indeed is the very principal that he is demonstrating potential. Nevertheless, suffice to say that the current predicament in which the Villans find themselves needs more than prospective talent. There is a very real danger of us supporting a Championship side this time next year and therefore, Lambert must demand performances, and that means goals from his attackers, Benteke seemingly the focal point of those at present.

There is pressure on the youngster, though it would appear he is more than capable of dealing with it. Beginning his senior career at the age of just seventeen, signing for Genk in the Belgian Pro League and making 10 appearances in the 2007/8 season, scoring one goal, Benteke has never been fearful of hard work as a means to realize his ambitions.

Having come from Standard Liège initially, he returned to the club a year later and played 18 games in two seasons, scoring just three goals. There was little doubt that he was capable and loan spells to Kortrijk and Mechelen between 2009 and 2011 proved fruitful for the hot prospect, who scored 21 goals in just over 50 appearances for both of these smaller Belgian Pro League clubs.

Loyal, undoubtedly, to clubs that give him an opportunity to develop, Benteke went back to Genk in 2011 and came of age in his one season there, scoring 19 goals in 37 matches. He caught the eye of a number of big European clubs, but Aston Villa were fastest to react.

Arriving at Villa Park full of energy, Benteke reaffirmed his driven nature when speaking to the club’s official website, saying that:

“I am happy to come here, it is my dream and I will work hard to do well here. I have realised one of my dreams by coming here
but my dream now is to be successful here. It will be difficult because there are good international players here but this is my challenge
and I look forward to playing with them.”

On form
Having scored on his debut in Villa’s finest game of the season against Swansea, the Congolese-born striker made the perfect start and has been a threat whenever he has played in claret and blue. However, a lack of goals followed, Benteke seeming capable only of missing easy opportunities, adding concern to the string of frustrating results for Villa, who slid and have now slumped near the bottom of the Premier League table.

With an impressive goal at the weekend against Norwich City in a 1-1 draw that was surely a must-win game, Benteke’s finish was perhaps one of the only real positives to be taken from the game. In addition to his goal against manager Paul Lambert’s former club, Benteke went on to grab a brace in the 3-2 victory over Swindon in the Capital One Cup, which is a boost for Villa in spite of the fact that the opponents were considerably weaker than the Manchester City side we did so well to knock out in the previous round. Progression is important for Lambert’s men, whenever and however it comes, and it is important to focus on the positives of the last two games with Benteke being a key one.

Even so, Paul Lambert was not entirely pleased with Benteke’s performance against Swindon, suggesting to reporters after the game that, “Benteke has had a quality start at Villa but his game wasn’t up to my standards. His two goals were world-class finishes but you set yourself a standard and we’ve got to keep him up to that. He is only 21 and has been a pleasure to work with. He is going to be a big player.”

Evidently, this is a positive attitude as far as Villa fans are concerned, because it would indicate that Lambert does not see Benteke as simply one for the future, but one who needs to be performing at his optimum now. This is true of every member of the squad, and a considerable benefit that Benteke is able to score two without playing well. This is naturally the sign of a good player. The future seems very bright for our new striker.

International class
On top of his impressive work at club level, Christian Benteke is a regular for the Belgian national side, which is rapidly becoming one of the most exciting young teams in international football, as his compatriots like Vincent Kompany, Eden Hazard and Moussa Dembele have already become Premier League stars in their own right. Indeed, Benteke has spoken of the influence that his international teammates had on his decision to move to Villa, declaring that, “It was motivation for me when I went to join up with the national team and saw all the players from the Premier League, it made me want to play here.”

With only eight caps for Belgium, a number of people suggested that Villa were too hasty to snap up a striker and had settled for an unproven one given his lack of experience. But Benteke is silencing the doubters, even if Villa’s form is not testament to that. Belgium are flying as of late, with the twenty-one-year-old proving to be the most potent threat in front of goal, having scored his first and only three national goals in his last four appearances for his country, which have culminated in an unbeaten start to their World Cup 2014 qualification campaign.

Bent or Benteke?
When discussing Villa’s current strikers, this is a question that is always going to arise, rightly or wrongly. The truth is that the response is actually little to do with comparing the two players individually, but rather comparing the way in which they impact on the performances of the team as a whole.

In my view, and according to current form, Benteke is the correct option given that he is scoring for club and country and his youthful, hungry attitude is nothing short of ideal given the current situation. Furthermore, it is worth considering the way in which Benteke views himself because it seems a rather apt description of exactly what we are looking for in a front man at the moment.

“I am a striker and I can play with my back to the goal. I can also play behind the striker and I am good in the air.” The question of whether Darren Bent requires far more direct service than Benteke is a key one, for me, as I see the Belgian as far more willing to drop back and collect the ball from deep, which is important with our current crop of players.

It is worth mentioning that in the same interview with www.avfc.co.uk, Benteke spoke of his desire to play alongside Darren Bent, or just behind the England striker. For now, Lambert is managing the squad the way he sees fit, and Benteke has found his feet in the last week. Long may it last.

Of course, the rest of the side needs to play its part as well, but leading from the front is not a bad way to go. I’m confident Benteke can do so.

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