Blow for Benteke as Belgian ace is ruled out of World Cup with achilles injury

Christian Benteke has suffered a torn achilles in training for Aston Villa and will miss the World Cup with Belgium.



In a huge blow for club and country the striker is feared to be out for up to eight months due to the acute nature of the injury sustained at Villa’s Bodymoor Heath base.



The 23-year-old underwent scans in hospital to ascertain the extent of the rupture and worst suspicions were confirmed, meaning surgery and a lengthy lay-off. His agent Kismet Eris was understood to be flying in to Birmingham to be by his side.



Down and out: Benteke was involved in a training session at Bodymoor Heath before he suffered the injury

Blow: Christian Benteke has been ruled out of the World Cup with an achilles injury Setback: Doctors feat Benteke could be out for eight months

Pain game: Benteke is believed to have been injured during training at Bodymoor Heath

John Barnes, then 28, ruptured his achilles tendon in England’s last game before the 1992 European Championships and when returning to the Liverpool team five months later had lost his blistering pace.



Barnes has said: ‘You never really get that muscle back.’



Other players to suffer include Yakubu, who, aged 26, was sidelined between November 2008 and October 2009; Mark Lawrenson, who retired aged 30 after snapping an achilles in March 1988; and Neil Webb, who was forced to drop down the divisions soon after his injury at Manchester United in 1989.



Medicine has moved on, but the rehabilitation remains arduous.



Benteke has not been as prolific as his debut season in England during this campaign but has still scored 10 Premier League goals in 26 games.



He is a regular starter for Belgium, with national coach Marc Wilmots preferring his direct style to Romelu Lukaku, and has six goals in 17 caps. The Everton striker will bear more responsibility in his countryman’s absence.



Last month Benteke said he was looking forward to Brazil this summer. ‘I’ve been away with Belgium playing Ivory Coast and it got me in the mood for it,’ he said.

