Tottenham defender Jan Vertonghen isn’t surprised Christian Benteke has proved his doubters wrong as he prepares to face his international colleague at Villa Park.
Benteke struggled to adapt to life in the English Premier League when he arrived from Genk for STG7 million ($A11.04 million) at the end of August.
However, the Belgian has been on a hot streak of form recently to take his season tally to eight goals.
Vertonghen knows Benteke well from their time together in a Belgium side littered with individual brilliance, and he knows he will have to be at his best to contain the towering striker.
“It doesn’t surprise me that he has done well,” Vertonghen said.
“He now feels the confidence of the team, the crowd and the manager.
“You could see that in the last two games for the national team (when Benteke scored in wins over Serbia and Scotland). He was very good then and I think that Aston Villa made the right choice to sign him.
“He is very good in the air and he can score. He will be a very tough player to play against.”
Vertonghen may not be in direct combat with his compatriot, however, as he could again be deployed at left-back, where he has played since Benoit Assou-Ekotto suffered a knee injury in September.
With Assou-Ekotto nearing full fitness, Vertonghen hopes to move back to his favoured position of centre-half.
When asked whether he found it frustrating playing at full-back, the 25-year-old said: “Yes, and the manager knows.
“I prefer centre-back but I want to help the team.
“It would be good to have Benoit back but not only for that reason as he is one of the best left-backs in the league.”
Villas-Boas, whose team dropped to sixth in the English Premier League on Saturday with a 0-0 draw against Stoke, will also be without Clint Dempsey for Wednesday night’s game as he has a groin strain.
Villa’s 8-0 defeat at Chelsea led to renewed fear among the Villa Park faithful that their team could be destined for relegation this term.
Villa sit just three points above the relegation zone but Spurs right-back Kyle Walker, who spent half a season on loan at Villa Park two seasons ago, thinks they will survive.
“I think they will be all right,” the 22-year-old told Spurs TV Online.
“I think they have proved that they can dig in at home.
“I watched them against Manchester United (when Villa surrendered a two-goal lead to lose 3-2).
“The result didn’t go their way but they are young, energetic and hungry to win games.”