Palace’s Christian Benteke has made a good start at his new club.
Former player and current pundit Charlie Nicholas has named Crystal Palace forward Christian Benteke as the signing of the season so far, Sky Sports report.
The Belgium international joined the Eagles from Liverpool for a club-record fee in the summer after spending just 12 months on Merseyside following his 2015 switch from Aston Villa.
Benteke just did not fit in at Anfield under both Brendan Rodgers and Jurgen Klopp, yet at Palace he is more than proving his worth as the team’s playing style is certainly getting the best out of him.
The former Villa man has already netted three times for his new club, and his early impact on Alan Pardew’s side has prompted Nicholas to single him out as the signing of the season thus far.
“This is not just because he’s scoring goals again but because he changes the philosophy of this Crystal Palace team,” Nicholas told Sky Sports.
“His presence in the box is something they’ve desperately needed for a number of season and gives Wilfried Zaha and Andros Townsend an additional option.
“If there’s a team that have been transformed by a signing then it is Palace.”
Palace suffered an awful loss of form last season as they slid alarmingly close to the relegation zone, and after picking up one point from their opening three matches this term there was real cause for concern.
However, the introduction of Benteke has given them a focal point upfront, and his presence in the air has given wingers Zaha and Townsend added motivation in wide areas.
Palace have picked up 10 points from their last four matches, with Benteke finding the net in three of those.
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