BENTEKE HAS HIS SELHURST SPARK BACK

PATRICK VIEIRA insists Christian Benteke is staying at Crystal Palace and that increased competition in attack is spurring him on.

Burnley made an inquiry for £12million-rated Benteke, but he made it clear he does not want to leave Selhurst Park.

And boss Vieira expects the 31-year-old Belgium striker (above) to still be on the Palace payroll when the transfer window closes at the end of this month.

Vieira is adamant the arrival of Odsonne Edouard and Jean-philippe Mateta is encouraging Benteke to up his performances. He has four goals in 20 league appearances this season, and is set to face his old club Liverpool tomorrow.

Vieira (below) said: “Christian will be staying. He’ll be at this club, he loves this club and is part of what we’re trying to do. I shouldn’t even have anything to comment about.

“It never crossed my mind he would be a subject. Christian is a Palace player. He’s happy here and I’m happy for him to be here. We’re working together to try to take the team to a different level.”

Vieira, who could also have striker Jordan Ayew available tomorrow after his return from the Africa Cup of Nations, added: “Having Edouard and Mateta in the squad has pushed Christian to perform.

“The best tools a manager can have is competition to get the best from players. Christian needed that – and this is one of the reasons why he is doing well.

“Like the majority of players, Christian needs confidence to get to his best. The way we play suits him, because having possession and creating chances gives him more opportunity to get into the box.

“He has been doing well.

“He’s scored a couple of goals and hopefully he can build from that and have a really good second half of the season.”