Lambert needs Benteke back on form

Manager Paul Lambert admits he is desperately trying to help Christian Benteke rediscover his best form as Aston Villa’s season of struggle in front of goal continues.

The striker has hit just three goals in 17 games this term after returning from a ruptured Achilles in October.

Villa have not scored in 10 hours and 12 minutes in the Barclays Premier League and have netted just 11 league goals in 23 games this season, with Benteke struggling to hit the heights of previous years.

“If I had Christian right on his game, performing when he was back from injury, I’m pretty sure I’d have long list of clubs knocking down the door for him,” Lambert said ahead of Saturday’s visit of Chelsea.

“He’s had a dip in form, he’s human like everyone else. We can’t rest everything on his shoulders.

“We’re working hard to get him back to what we know he can do. It’s something we have to get him through.

“You don’t have the talent he’s got and fall that far. Everyone has dips in form, it’s more noticeable in him and everyone alludes to what he did in his first year.

“It’s something we’re working hard – to get him back to his best.”

Villa moved for Rickie Lambert on transfer deadline day in a bid to ease their goalscoring woes, only for the forward to stay at Liverpool.

Lambert remained tight-lipped on how close they came to signing the 32-year-old, though.

He said: “You’re never quite sure, I don’t like talking about other club’s players, it’s not nice.

“We tried one or two things to try and make it happen. I’m never sure until someone walks through the door and gets signed.

“I don’t know how far it got, it’s unfair for me to comment. There were one or two things which fell through.”