Christian Benteke targets 10 Premier League goals as Crystal Palace forward hopes to end season on a high

BY ANDREW McSTEEN

Christian Benteke has targeted reaching double figures for goals before Crystal Palace end their Premier League season.

The Belgian scored his eighth of the campaign in the Eagles’ 3-1 defeat against Southampton on Tuesday. He is beginning to regain the form he lost over the past three seasons where he could only manage six strikes in total.

Palace have just three games remaining for Benteke to achieve the feat.

“That would be a good season,” Benteke said when asked if double figures for the season would be a good return. “But there’s three more games to go, so hopefully I will finish on a high. We’ve got some great games, especially our game against Arsenal at home with our fans – we look forward to it.

“But first, on Sunday, we’ve got a tough game against Aston Villa and we’ll see how it goes.”

Benteke put Palace ahead after two minutes against the Saints. However, a Danny Ings brace and a Che Adams tap-in turned the game around for the hosts.

“We had a great start and then had a couple of chances to have scored more, but we didn’t and Southampton were more efficient than us,” the 30-year-old told Premier League Productions.

“After our early goal they didn’t give up, they kept going. They came back in the game but we could have done better with some of our chances.

“For a striker it is important to score and it is just a personal part where you feel pleased to score, but, in the end, we didn’t win and, as a team, you just want to keep winning games – that’s the most important.”

“I’m doing well and I just want to keep going and keep pushing myself, working as hard as I can,” he said about his confidence in front of goal. “I feel mentally and physically strong and fit, and that’s the result of my work.”