Crystal Palace manager Roy Hodgson has continued to back Christian Benteke despite the striker’s dreadful form in front of goal.
As reported on Football London, Hodgson believes that Benteke is the best striker in the Palace squad at the moment.
The Belgian international forward has only managed to find the back of the net three times since the beginning of last season and his poor form has drawn plenty of criticism from fans and pundits.
Hodgson is keeping his faith in the 27-year-old former Liverpool striker despite his abysmal goalscoring form. The Palace boss said:
At the moment, we still consider him to be our best option in that position. Had we had other options, maybe we might have considered those too.
I think at the moment, all the time he is working as hard as he is and trying as hard, it might not be the right moment [to take him out]. Of course, the moment may well come when we think, ‘we better do something about this’, and as we get players back fit, the options will become greater.
We encourage him as best we can. We encourage him to concentrate hard on the things he can do.
Benteke missed a string of chances on Saturday in the 2-0 defeat to Southampton at Selhurst Park, notably a free header inside the six-yard box which he directed straight at the goalkeeper.
