Benteke’s battle to avoid axe
CHRISTIAN BENTEKE admits he is running out of time to rediscover his form ahead of the World Cup.
The Crystal Palace striker has just three games left to make Belgium boss Roberto Martinez’s squad.
Despite being a Palace regular under Roy Hodgson, Benteke has scored just twice in 28 club appearances this season.
His only goal in his last 15 games came in the 1-1 draw at West Ham in January.
But the former Liverpool marksman, 27, who netted 49 times in 100 appearances for Aston Villa, believes he is simply out of luck at Selhurst Park.
He said: “In the past I have had just one opportunity and I scored.
“This year, I feel more involved, I make more effort but I’m not rewarded.
“It’s not the fault of others, I’m clumsy, lack of lucidity, lack of success too. But I will work.” Benteke was left out of Martinez’s squad for the recent friendly against Saudi Arabia. He added: “I knew it was 50-50. I also knew the reason – it’s my statistics and not the overall quality of my matches.
“If I look at those who play in my place, they’re not in their best shape either. Not being in that squad had both a negative and positive effect.
“Negative because I did not make it, even if it was only for one game. The positive was that it allowed me to stay in my club and to be able to work on knowing why I was not taken in. And to address it.
“If I had to miss the World Cup, it would hurt me but I would recover.
“Everything that’s happening, it’s just a bonus. I’ll never spit in the soup. From where I came from, what I’ve done is already very good. I know I’ll never have Cristiano Ronaldo’s career, I’m not asking for it, all I want is recognition.”