Christian Benteke is currently out with a hip injury and last week Paul Lambert was adamant that Benteke would not be involved with Aston Villa nor Belgium until he is full fit and ready for the game against Tottenham in two weeks time. However, the Belgium staff see otherwise. A Belgium medical staff, Lieven Maesschalck has flown in to Birmingham to assess the injury to Benteke. Belgium and Villa medical staff have been in contact and despite the fact that the Villa staff don’t want Benteke to feature it appears as though the ‘quick healer’ will be called up for Belgium’s World Cup Qualifiers. Belgium need 1 more point to qualify for the Brazil World Cup and the coach want’s Benteke to feature against Wales.
Obviously this could cause a row between Belgium and Aston Villa but currently it appears as though Benteke will feature for Belgium despite the fact that Aston Villa don’t want their star asset to be risked. The national team obviously means a lot to Benteke and with Lukaku getting better, it’s important that Benteke plays for Belgium and insures that he’ll be their main striker in Brazil.
My opinion? I think he should be allowed to join the Belgium team, he won’t play the first qualifier against Croatia but I’m certain that Belgium will get that needed 1 point, they will qualify and Benteke then won’t be risked against Wales. I don’t want the club to cause tension between the national team because it could led to a Benteke exit.
Belgium just want to use Benteke to qualify for next year and won’t care if he is out for 4 months this time as long as he’s ready for the World Cup….Fuck em long ways fuck off Bellends
Presumably Lukaku will start and Benteke will be on the bench just in case?
Can’t say they are willing to put him in the squad injured must be for a reason
Back up to Lukaku. Only back up they have to Benteke and Lukaku are arguably Bakkali who is only 17 and Lestienne who plays as a winger. Mertens and Mirallas tend to be wingers.
Let him go he will not be risked but they want him around the team, the Belgians are not thick, well I dont think they are.
If he was an arsenal player wengar wouldn’t let him go obviously we just let him do what he wants because lambert scared he will go in jan instead of next summer
Lol. It’s up to the player to say no, Lambert has no say, Wenger has no say, Wenger gets his players too say no, because being at Arsenal means they’ll continue to be called up no matter what. Plus Benteke has big competition from Lukaku, and actually cares about playing for his Country.
Fair play to the lad if he wants to get fit and play, a refreshing change from the. sick notes usually handed in by English players prior to internationals.
I can’t really see him featuring unless Belgium get desperate which I doubt.
Clubs should never interfere when it comes to a player and his national side, imo.
I actually like it when players want to play for their country, especially as has already been said, too many are way to happy to pull out at the drop of a hat.
I actually look at that sort of player with total disdain personally.
Ok, if he were to feature, he might make his injury worse, which would be bad for the Villa.
But I come from a time when the highest single honour was to captain your natinal side, followed by actually getting play.
It’s the likes of the Sky four that have ruined international footy, because money has become more important to the game and if a player wants to play, he should be allowed.
Plus, players aren’t totally thick and they do know if they’re up to it or not, imo.
And it isn’t in their interest to injure themselves again, which probably costs them serious money.
Surely it’s great news that it looks like he’ll be back for the Spurs game.
Will he get straight back in after the Norwich and Citeh results ?
I’m with Badger on this, you dreamt of playing for England as a kid in the 70’s & 80’s, not a top four finish bonus.
If he wants to go to keep his foot in the door (no pun intended) then good luck to the lad. Belgium won’t want him injured, to suggest so is ludicrous.
On another note though, I can see Bale being the new Giggs, and only bothering with Wales when he fancies it or until a qualifying campaign is over.
sounds like he will be ready baring any problems doesn’t it?
as for bale he pulled out of the last 2 games for wales even though they were still in with a shout(albeit an outside one)of qualifying, disgraceful if you ask me.
Bale has hardly been in the Madrid side due to injury, it’s hardly disgraceful when players are actually injured.
Totally agree NM, although in fairness, Coleman has apparently said he knows Bale isn’t fit and it’s more about just having him involved.
Mind you, if I was the Welsh manager, I’d want to play him with a broken leg, as he’d still be miles better than most of the Welsh squad!
A joke, before anyone thinks I’m serious!
Pretty sure bale wasn’t injured during the last qualifiers andrew, it was when his transfer was going though an he played for Madrid the following game and scored
Belgium are through, Benteke wasn’t on the bench, so hopefully he won’t be used on Tuesday.