Christian Benteke is still searching for his first Premier League goal of the season after returning from injury.
Crystal Palace manager Roy Hodgson is concerned about the form of Christian Benteke and has forewarned the forward that he needs to start pulling his weight, according to Sky Sports.
The Belgian striker returned from a two-month layoff in November but is still without a Premier League goal this season, missing a stoppage-time penalty in last Saturday’s 2-2 draw with Bournemouth.
Benteke is liable to long barren spells and Hodgson has admitted that the Eagles, whose tally of 12 league goals this season is fewer than only Swansea City, “can’t afford to carry” a striker who is not scoring.
Sky Sports quote Hodgson as saying: “Of course when your front player – the man who is a pivotal focal point in your attack – is not scoring, it’s a concern. It’s a concern to him, it’s a concern to us and it’s a concern to fans.
“He can do nothing more than keep working at it, keep working very, very hard.
“If the goals aren’t coming he needs to be making certain he’s making a good contribution to the team’s play, both in terms of our attacking and our defensive play.
“We certainly can’t afford to carry anybody, let alone carry a goalscorer that isn’t scoring goals.”
Hodgson’s frustrations may be running thin with Benteke after the player overruled managerial instructions to commandeer the spot kick against the Cherries from regular taker Luka Milivojevic.
The timing of the Palace manager’s comments, with the January transfer window on the horizon, might be designed to kick the 27-year-old into gear amid fears that the club could buy a replacement.
Palace are likely to be in the market for a striker in the New Year anyway. The injured is the Connor Wickham only recognised alternative to Benteke, who might be relegated to deputy if his form doesn’t pick up.
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