Gestede insists that he is ready to help Villa avoid relegation this season and won't compare himself to his predecessor Christian Benteke

The 27-year-old striker has become an instant hit with Villa fans

Rudy Gestede was aiming for Premier League glory when he started cultivating his dreadlock hairstyle — now the Aston Villa striker is faced with an entirely different sort of dread.

Less than three months after heading the winner on his Villa debut in the season curtain-raiser at Bournemouth, 27-year-old Gestede and Villa are bottom of the table and minus a permanent manager after the sacking of Tim Sherwood.

Caretaker boss Kevin MacDonald takes charge of Villa at Tottenham on Monday night with Frenchman Remi Garde close to signing a three-and-a-half-year deal to replace Sherwood.

Aston Villa signed Benin international striker Rudy Gestede from Blackburn for £6million

Gestede scored on his Villa debut in the 1-0 victory over Bournemouth at The Vitality Stadium

Gestede says that he is happy to be playing for a club with as much tradition and history as Villa

The 27-year-old made himself even more popular when he scored agianst Villa's rivals Birmingham City

Villa and MacDonald desperately need the dreadlocked Gestede to use his aerial power to arrest the slide which has brought no wins in the last nine games.

After his goal against Bournemouth, Gestede enhanced his cult status by scoring the Capital One Cup winner against rivals Birmingham in similar style, then got two goals from crosses in a 3-2 defeat at Liverpool.

Gestede's capacity to jump high and head hard has given Villa hope that this 6ft 4in striker may be able to provide the goals the club craves.

'When I was a kid I was scoring goals with my head, it came naturally,' he says. 'I am a big guy, so it is one of my strengths. If the cross is good it's my job to put the ball in the back of the net. I don't know how high I can jump. That is something we can work on, getting strength in my legs in the gym. But it is the timing that is important.

'I have something else as well. I can play with my feet. I can be used as a target man or as a link-up player. I am ready for both. As long as I can help the team get results I will do the job.

'I am 94 kilos (14st 11lb) so when I am in the air with pace I am pretty heavy. I had a collision with Martin Skrtel last season and knocked him down. Even as I was trying to speak with him he wouldn't respond. He was concussed.'

Possessing such a physical presence brings comparisons to Christian Benteke, the centre forward Villa sold to Liverpool for £32.5million. But Gestede, scorer of 35 goals in 72 matches for Blackburn, has a counter-argument.

Gestede does not want to compare himself to former Villa favourite Christian Benteke

Gestede scored twice in the 3-2 defeat by Liverpool at Anfield earlier this season

'I am not here to replace Christian Benteke, we are different players,' he insists. 'He has done well for the club, now I wish him the best at Liverpool. But I will bring something else. Obviously the fans will compare Benteke and me but they have to know we are not playing in the same way. I am just Rudy. I know what I have got.'

That strong head includes a sharp brain. Gestede helps run energy-drinks company No Limit in his spare time.

'I like to have something other than football to keep my mind busy,' he said. 'We are concentrating on selling in Africa now as there aren't as many energy drinks and our price is cheaper than Red Bull.'

Villa signed Gestede from Blackburn for £6million in the summer.

'Premier League football was my ambition,' he says. 'In January I was close to Crystal Palace but it didn't happen. I was in touch with a few other clubs but when Villa came it was an obvious choice. It is a massive club with history.'

Gestede has vowed not to shirk his responsibilities in Villa's relegation battle this season

If Villa are to stand a chance of staying up this season, Gestede's form will no doubt be crucial

Gestede turned to an unlikely source for advice during that January transfer window: Craig Bellamy, a mentor during Cardiff's Championship- winning campaign.

'I was very impressed by Craig Bellamy,' says Gestede. 'He was always the first at training and last to leave, working very hard. He is not the kind of person people think. He is a good guy. Sometimes he could get angry on the pitch because he is a winner.

'Every training session, every game he wants to win. If you miss something he will be on your back to make sure next time you won't fail.'

Gestede was born in Essey-les-Nancy, France, and represented the country at Under 19 level. But he switched to Benin in February 2013.

Gestede's trademark dreadlocks have only served to add to his popularity among the Villa fans

He took to his distinctive dreadlocks after his winner at Bournemouth.

'I always wanted to do dreadlocks,' explains Gestede. 'I haven't cut it for more than a year. I don't mind being recognisable but I just like dreadlocks. I enjoy the mentality. I listen to reggae music but it is not for Bob Marley, I am not smoking weed!

'You can wash it. Obviously you cannot go inside the hair but I have some product. People think dreadlocks are dirty but they are not. It is very clean.'

Gestede is married to wife Hawa and has a three-year-old son, Elijah.

'I have a little girl on the way too,' he adds with another broad smile. 'When I leave football I like to think about something else, spend time with my family, have a clear head.'