Monday, 22nd September, 2014
Aston Villa manager Paul Lambert has revealed that Christian Benteke is not far from returning to action, but insisted that his side’s Premier League fixture against Chelsea on Saturday may come too soon for the striker.
The Belgian international, who ruptured his Achilles tendon while training in April, was sidelined for the remainder of the Villains’ 2013/14 season and also subsequently missed his nation’s World Cup campaign.
However, the 23-year-old returned to training last week and did not complain about any problem.
But Lambert, whose side went down 3-0 to Arsenal at the weekend, feels Benteke will not be ready to take the field against the Blues at Stamford Bridge.
"I'm not sure if that one [the Chelsea game] might be a bit early”, the manager told his club’s official site.
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"But you're looking not too far after that I think. He has trained this past week with no ill effects. He will train again this week.
"We will see how he is. But he's not too far now."
Benteke, who has a further three years left on his present contract with Aston Villa, has thus far amassed 67 appearances in all competitions for the club, scoring 34 goals and providing 10 assists.
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