Benteke given Roy’s benefit of the drought

ROY HODGSON has given £30milllion striker Christian Benteke one more chance to find his goalscoring form.

The Belgian frontman will today play against Southampton despite managing just three goals last season.

Palace have brought in forwards Alex Sorloth, Jordan Ayew and Sullay Kaikai to boost their goal power, but Benteke, above, will not be sacrificed.

“He knows last season was not his best, and I don’t think he needs any more pressure on him than he has already got,” said Hodgson.

“He has worked hard to be a better player and do all the things we want a centre-forward to do. He deserves the confidence I’m showing him in giving him these chances. If you aren’t scoring as a centreforward then you are automatically going to be under pressure.

“Even the best No9s come under scrutiny if they are not providing goals. Christian doesn’t need any more pressure.

“He also realises it is not a God-given right and that my confidence in him isn’t something for him and him alone.

“But at the moment Christian has the shirt, and I am confident he will work hard to hold onto the shirt.”

Benteke will come up against the tallest outfield player in the League today in Saints’ 6ft 6ins defender Jannik Vestergaard. And Saints boss Mark Hughes said: “You’d like to think his ability in the air and strength to be able to combat the physical strength of Benteke will help us.

“There’s going to be match-ups all over and we need to come out in the vast majority of them. If we don’t, they have good players who can hurt you.”

Saints paid £18million to land Vestergaard, 26, from Borussia Monchengladbach this summer.

Hughes said: “We’re all beginning to understand Jannik more as a person as well – he’s starting to be more vocal about the place in terms of his leadership.

“That was one of the big things we noticed when we were trying to recruit him. When you meet him he’s a great personality and well liked within the group.”