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Christian Benteke admits his transfer request at Aston Villa was “a mistake” and now wants to repay boss Paul Lambert for building the side around him.

Belgium international striker Benteke went from hero to villain at Villa Park when he demanded to quit after 23 goals in his stunning debut season.

But he ended up snubbing Spurs to sign a new four-year deal in July 2013 and is now fixing his sights on more goals after returning from long-term injury and a ban.

The striker, 24, told MirrorSport: “I don’t have regrets about staying. Every choice I made I accept but I would not do the same mistake and everything that happened before.”

Last season Benteke’s campaign was cruelly ended by an Achilles injury in training in April which required surgery.

It left him stranded on 11 goals as he missed the World Cup and only returned in October.

But he is ready to thrive in the remainder of this campaign ahead of Manchester United’s visit tomorrow after Lambert changed Villa’s tactics.

The Scot has implemented a new passing style by playing out from the back in their last two games instead of a previously more direct counter-attacking style.

Benteke believes it suits his game despite a defeat at neighbouring West Brom last weekend.

In pictures: West Brom 1-0 Aston Villa

He explained: “Sometimes you have to try something else. Other teams are not stupid - they know we go to Benteke because we just play long ball.

“Now the fact we try to build up from behind is a good thing. We can play and we can enjoy it. OK we lost against West Brom but we showed some good football.

“We have to try to show that against the big teams too and not be afraid. The manager discussed it with the squad.

“He said if a player has something to say they can come and knock on his door. He gives us more responsibility. He asked if the players are comfortable to play this way and we say: ‘yes’.

“We have some quality and we have to use it.”

With many Villa fans still on Lambert’s back, Benteke knows he can play a pivotal role in boosting the club’s prospects after owner Randy Lerner put it up for sale.

Villa have just 10 goals in 16 league matches this term but Benteke is determined to repay Lambert who paid £7million to take him from Genk in August 2012.

Christian Benteke Premier League stats 67 Appearances 30 Goals 7 Assists

Benteke also says Lambert’s decision to allow him to recuperate from his Achilles injury in his native Belgium for several weeks helped enormously.

“He signed me and gave me confidence and I try to pay him back on the pitch to try and score,” Benteke added.

“I have a special relationship with him. He is really cool with me and gives me a lot of freedom when I play. He also understood when you have a break while injured you comeback fresh in your head.

“My injury was really hard but the fact I was with my family in Belgium helped me a lot. I forgot about football a bit.

“I was with good people and had kind messages off the whole of Belgium. I think it helped me a lot. Sometimes you can say something to someone and you don’t think about what you said but this was honest.”

Benteke was speaking this week on a visit to Birmingham Children’s Hospital to visit the young patients.

It was a poignant trip for the forward who became a father for the first time in August to son Jaden.

His arrival is another incentive to rediscover top form after missing out on Brazil and then being sent off against Spurs just four matches into his comeback.

(Image: Stu Forster)

He has already scored once against Crystal Palace earlier this month with a brilliant effort described as reminiscent of the recently retired Thierry Henry.

But Benteke added: “To say I am like Thierry Henry or almost like him is bulls**t.

“Now Thierry Henry has stopped, everyone is saying he is a good player and hopefully it will be the same for me. Sometimes I feel like I am old. I am still young but I don’t forget football goes fast.

“In 2014 I had some good news and bad news but hopefully the New Year is going to be something good and better.”

Tomorrow’s opponents United are in fine form though after reeling off six successive top-flight victories.

Benteke said: “They are favourites, you have to respect them because they are a big club but the respect stops on the pitch.

“On the pitch you have to fight, we are men, you still need to fight for yourself and your family who have come to see you.”