Lambert to call on hitman

Summer signing Christian Benteke is set to be handed his first Premier League start for Aston Villa in Saturday's trip to Southampton.

The Belgium international, who joined Villa from Genk in a deal worth around £7million during this past transfer window, made an immediate impression on his home debut as he came off the bench to score the second in Villa's 2-0 win over Swansea last Saturday.
As a result, Villa boss Paul Lambert could be tempted to pitch him in from the kick-off at St Mary's this weekend in a two-pronged strike-force alongside record signing Darren Bent.
Lambert is also boosted by the return of Chris Herd and Fabian Delph following injury problems, but Marc Albrighton is not quite ready to make his comeback from a foot injury, while Richard Dunne and Gary Gardner are long-term absentees because of respective groin and ligament ailments.
Villa go to the south coast hoping to stretch their unbeaten run to three games against a Saints side that has not registered a point in their opening four matches. However, Lambert has warned his players against complacency as he is expecting a difficult afternoon from Nigel Adkins' side.
"We will try and win. It will be a tough, tough game down there. I have been down there before a few years ago. It's a tough place but we will try and win," he said.