Crystal Palace manager Patrick Vieira explains how striker Christian Benteke has improved his game

Crystal Palace manager Patrick Vieira says striker Christian Benteke deserves all the credit for his brilliant start to the season.

The Belgium international has gone from almost leaving the club last summer to being untouchable in the starting eleven.

The 30-year-old has been one of those who have been transformed since the arrival of Patrick Vieira, bagging four goals in his last five games for the South London based club.

His overall impact has been remarkable too, leading the line superbly and drawing in players like Odsonne Édouard and Wilfried Zaha to cause damage to the opposition.

His efforts have contributed remarkably to Palace currently enjoying the longest unbeaten stretch in the Premier League, and hoping to extend it when Benteke’s former side, Aston Villa come visiting Selhurst Park on Saturday.

Crystal Palace manager Patrick Vieira has been blown away by the form of his experienced striker and backs him to continue his hot streak against Steven Gerrard’s side.

“I think all the credit belongs to Christian because he has shown everyone that he wants to be at this football club,” Vieira told the Press ahead of the weekend’s game.

“The fact that we have brought Edouard as well has created a new challenge for the players and he has shown that he is up for the fight and has shown everyone that he wants to be part of this club.

“He’s put his head down and has worked hard and is now playing almost his best football at the moment.

“He is playing with a lot of confidence and belief and when the team is playing well and creating chances you know yourself and the next challenge for us is to maintain the run we are on.”

The game against Aston Villa will be an emotional one for Benteke who is coming up against the team that gave him a chance to play in the Premier League for the first time.

He spent three seasons at Villa Park and played 89 Premier League games, scoring 47 times before moving to Liverpool in the summer of 2015.

He spent just a season at Liverpool before making the move to South London to join Crystal Palace.

Asked if his time at Villa will play on the mind of the striker, manager Patrick Vieira said it’s been six years already and the player will be focused on playing a good game and not being held back by events of the past.

“I think it has been a while and as a footballer his concentration will be to try and get the best out of the game and help his side,” Vieira added.

“Aston Villa have a new manager and he has new ideas which he would like to implement and that is what we have to be wary of.”