Blow for Villa as Benteke misses festive fare

Struggling Aston Villa have been dealt a massive blow with the news striker Christian Benteke will miss all their Christmas programme.

The striker missed the weekend defeat by Stoke and now Villa boss Paul Lambert must plan without him for crucial games against Crystal Palace, Swansea and Sunderland.

“He needs to have a wee bit of a rest and treatment. It’s not long-term, I’m pretty sure it is not,” said Lambert.

The Villa boss was frustrated to see his team go down 2-1 to Stoke at the Britannia Stadium at the weekend, making it three defeats on the bounce for the Midlanders.

Lambert said: “We have nine points to play for in a week. The games come thick and fast. We will pick up points, no doubt about it.

“You don’t feel sorry for yourselves now. You pick yourself up. You have to go to the next game and try to win. You look at that mid-table region. There is absolutely nothing in it. One win catapults you up.”

Meanwhile, Kevin Phillips could find out whether he has a future at Crystal Palace tomorrow, according to boss Tony Pulis.

Pulis revealed he will hold talks with the veteran striker over his Selhurst Park situation in Birmingham, before the clash with Villa.

Palace will stay in the midlands on Christmas night, when former Stoke manager Pulis said he and Phillips will sit down and discuss what will happen in January.

Phillips has been linked with a move away from Palace in the January transfer window.

High winds and driving rain made yesterday’s training all but a washout, but Pulis said his players coped admirably. He said: “You expect a bit of weather in England. We just walked through stuff today instead of running through.”