Aston Villa manager Paul Lambert has revealed that the club's medical team are "pretty happy" with Christian Benteke's progress as he looks to recover from injury.

Benteke was expected to be out for six weeks after suffering a hip injury against Norwich City last weekend, but Lambert has insisted that he could return sooner than first thought.

The 44-year-old told reporters: "I think that he will be back quicker. We'll have to wait and see. We've two games before the international break, which has probably come at the right time for him and for us.

"The worst scenario was that he was going to be out for a considerable period of time. But the way that he is progressing, everybody is pretty happy with him, and he's a lot happier within himself, which is pleasing."

The Belgian international has scored four goals in the Premier League this season.

Written by
Darren Plant