Aston Villa striker Christian Benteke will spend at least six months on the sidelines with a ruptured Achilles tendon. The 23-year-old Belgium international will have to undergo surgery and that means he won't be able to take part in this summer's World Cup in Brazil.
Aston Villa manager Paul Lambert said: "It's a terrible blow both for Christian and for the club. But he'll work hard because that's what he does and he'll come back for us stronger than ever next season." Benteke joined Villa in August 2012 in a £7m deal from Belgian club Genk and scored an impressive 23 goals in all competitions in his debut season in England. He signed a new four-year contract with Aston Villa in July 2013.
He has scored 11 goals this season and was set to be named in the Belgium World Cup squad. Manchester City defender Vincent Kompany, Benteke's international captain, posted this message of support via Twitter: "Wishing you all the strength you need Christian Benteke and I hope you will recover quickly! We're all with you together!"
Belgium are in World Cup Group H alongside Russia, South Korea and Algeria. Bet365 have Belgium as favourites to qualify from that group, they are 1/7 to pull through while Russia are 4/11.
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