Crystal Palace boss Roy Hodgson has backed Christian Benteke to make the Belgium squad for the 2018 World Cup despite his goal troubles this season.
Benteke has netted 12 times in 32 appearances for Belgium, but was left out of Roberto Martinez's squad for the international friendly with Saudi Arabia earlier this week.
The 27-year-old has scored just twice during a difficult 2017-18 campaign, but Hodgson has insisted that the powerful centre-forward still has enough time to earn a spot in the Belgium squad for this summer's tournament.
"He needs, and he knows he needs, to play as well as we think he is playing, at this moment in time," Hodgson told reporters.
"I think his form is very much on the up. If the national coach, Roberto [Martinez], was to watch his performance in particular against Huddersfield [Town], but also against Tottenham [Hostpur] and Manchester United, then he would be seeing the Benteke that he knows and has selected in the past.
"I would defy anybody not to be impressed by the defensive work he did against Huddersfield. His hold-up play, his ability to bring other people into play, his runs and his movement were all the things we were hoping to see from him, I believe we are now seeing.
"If he can add a goal or two or an assist to that, I am pretty certain that Roberto and his staff watching him will see the Benteke they know and want. All Christian can do is produce those performances to keep his club in the league and then hopefully that will be recognised by his national team and he will get a place in the squad to go to Russia."
Belgium's next international friendly is against Portugal at the start of June.
Matt Law
