Aston Villa striker Christian Benteke believes that he will return better than ever when he recovers from his Achilles injury.

The Belgium international was ruled out of the World Cup after picking up the injury during training back in April.

Benteke has said that while he is remaining patient about his recovery, he is determined to get back to his best.

"It's a bad injury and I don't have to rush myself. I have to do the right treatement," he told Villa's official website.

"But what I can do is work as hard as I can to make sure that I come back better than before. Of course, I believe this. Will I be able to come back bigger, stronger, better than before? Yes - not bigger maybe, but better!

"Always you seek to improve, as a player, as a person. To do better, this is my goal, to do better than the past two seasons."

Benteke has scored 34 goals in 67 appearances for Villa since joining from Genk in 2012.